Wanderlei Silva Moving Down to Middleweight

by Mike Fagan on Jan 30, 2009 7:51 PM EST in MMA News

ESPN's Franklin McNeil reported on MMA Live's weigh-in special that Wanderlei Silva will finally take the plunge down to middleweight. Silva made the decision after going 1-3 in his last four fights at 205.

The move makes a lot of sense. Silva still hits hard as evidenced in the Keith Jardine fight, but he made his name in Japan where weight cutting is not as sophisticated or prolific.

I'd like to see Zuffa give Wanderlei the Anderson Silva treatment and throw him in with Chris Leben. Silva's gone through a who's who of MMA over the past 5 years, and a fight with Leben should get him back on track in a new division.

Tweet Comment 29 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

i can’t imagine that fight would last more than 3 mins

by #5mmafan on Jan 30, 2009 7:56 PM EST reply actions

Imagine what he'd do to ..

Kendall

by I Can't Feel My Face on Jan 30, 2009 7:59 PM EST reply actions

finallyyyyyyyyyyy..

they should do a bisping and feed him jiujitsu people.. then one legit person. then title shot. haha. just so i can see silva vs silva..

http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/

by Anton Tabuena on Jan 30, 2009 8:01 PM EST reply actions

Goddammit

I wanted to see him get Rich Franklin in the clinch. So… Wand vs Marquardt? I actually think Marquardt could be a bad matchup for him despite the fact that I think Marquardt is overrated. Wand is a blackbelt in name only and could end up getting taken down and layed on. Or he could absolutely bludgeon Marquardt to death with knees. Hard to tell these days.

Gimme 1 Round!

by skwirrl on Jan 30, 2009 8:02 PM EST reply actions

Marquardt would be a very bad match up for Wand.

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on Jan 30, 2009 8:49 PM EST up reply actions

a

by Mike Fagan on Jan 30, 2009 9:17 PM EST up reply actions

Weird. Was trying to say I agree.

by Mike Fagan on Jan 30, 2009 9:17 PM EST up reply actions

I just wanna see Wand Bisping

Bisping couldn’t even sting Wand and it would be brutal and messy when Wand swarmed him.

Gimme 1 Round!

by skwirrl on Jan 30, 2009 9:32 PM EST up reply actions

Bad

Ass

WAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNDDDDDDYYYYY!!!!!

by Ubernoober on Jan 30, 2009 8:06 PM EST reply actions

ohhh

Silva vs. silva would be awesome

by SmytheX on Jan 30, 2009 8:13 PM EST reply actions

I don't know...

if he would ever fight Maia because they train together.

by _Felix_ on Jan 30, 2009 8:18 PM EST reply actions

after Silva gets a gimme who wants to see Wand v Belfort?

by mmalogic on Jan 30, 2009 8:48 PM EST reply actions

I could go for that.

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on Jan 30, 2009 8:49 PM EST up reply actions

what about belfort vs lawler?

by Kid Nate on Jan 30, 2009 8:58 PM EST up reply actions

either will do… Belfort just needs one more quality win.

by mmalogic on Jan 30, 2009 9:30 PM EST up reply actions

please let him beat up cb dollaway.

by woooburn on Jan 30, 2009 8:56 PM EST reply actions

haha maybe he’ll break open his upper lip

by Epy on Jan 30, 2009 9:09 PM EST up reply actions

It’s pretty conceivable that the road to the title in the division could go through a guy like Maia. So..this could be a dilemma if Wandy actually performs well in his 1st few and gets some big wins early. Wandy and Maia seem really tight.

by lbk on Jan 30, 2009 9:14 PM EST reply actions

I bet they do give him Leben for the first fight.

There’s always the possibility of him running into Hendo again at 185.

by donkeypunch on Jan 30, 2009 9:27 PM EST reply actions

Wand-Belcher?

by Michael Rome on Jan 30, 2009 9:52 PM EST reply actions

Hmmm...

I like it. Belcher has a (somewhat undeserved) rep as a dangerous striker but he lets himself get hit so often that it could work out well for Wand. Plus he is coming off a win so it doesn’t SEEM quite so “oh..it’s a gimmie”

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Jan 30, 2009 9:57 PM EST up reply actions

I really HOPE Wandy learns how to shoot again, as well as throw straight punches.

Rampages clearly exposed him and Chuck for basically the same problem, poor defence.

Rampage has the best striking defence I think, he can absorb a tremendous amount of punishment from non-leg strikes.

I would love to see Wanderlei come out at 185 looking super-fast and with a better defensive striking technique, he may be young but he has been knocked out in a lot of fights in a devastating fashion. (Mirko, Rampage, Hendo are ones that come to mind.)

Don’t be stubborn Wandy, evolve into a great striker at 185, otherwise Anderson is going to pick you apart with crisp straight strikes from the outside.

by DirtyML on Jan 30, 2009 9:57 PM EST reply actions

If

Wandy keeps fighting like he has been (looping left, looping right, repeat) then he can cut to 170 and it won’t matter; he’s gonna get beat.

by Farthammer on Jan 30, 2009 10:15 PM EST reply actions

Yeah Leben would be a good first fight at 185. After that, give him the loser of Bisping vs Henderson. If he wins that, A Silva :)

by brad23 on Jan 30, 2009 10:32 PM EST reply actions

Denis Kang vs. Wanderlei Silva.. BOOK IT (win or lose for Denis Kang at UFC 97)

by "Mr. NC-17" on Jan 30, 2009 11:07 PM EST reply actions

This isn’t bad either.

by Michael Rome on Jan 30, 2009 11:51 PM EST up reply actions

It’s not very nice to Denis.

by Derek Suboticki on Jan 31, 2009 1:58 AM EST up reply actions

Anderson Silva treatment? I think wandys sloppy style is Tailor made for some one like Leben. leben Would put his lights put with a left hook.To risky of a first fight must win for Wandy. UFC never books that fight even though it would be fun.

by mlzybaby on Jan 31, 2009 10:53 AM EST reply actions