Quote of the Day: Dana White Still Backs Anderson Silva

by Luke Thomas on Feb 2, 2009 12:47 PM EST in News Comment 31 comments

"I still wouldn't call him pound for pound the best in the world, but he's No. 2, no doubt about it...Georges takes out Thiago Alves? He's on his way. I would say Georges St. Pierre would be neck and neck with Anderson had he not lost to Matt Serra."

-- Dana White, arguing that St. Pierre still has a hurdle to climb before becoming MMA's pound-for-pound king. And, of course, White is potentially setting the stage for a St. Pierre vs. Silva showdown.

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I agree, Silva cleared out his division, GSP must do the same.

And the Serra fight didn’t help his cause.

by kyfm621 on Feb 2, 2009 1:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think we all know that the Sera loss was a huge anamoly as he proved in the rematch. I mean, GSP destroyed Sera in that 2nd fight.

Looks like GSP vs Alves for sure now. Sweet.

by lbk on Feb 2, 2009 1:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Serra beat GSP worse

Serra knockin GSP silly> GSP using his size and physical gifts to control another small fighter… Its not his fault that Serra was smaller, but I dont know how repeated knees to the body> repeated punches to the face til gsp taps…

by Loot on Feb 2, 2009 1:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Get punched behind the ear like that and see how well you defend yourself from punches to the face.

by iiowyn on Feb 2, 2009 1:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Serra got beaten to a pulp in the 1st round and totally dominated in the 2nd.

Serra caught GSP with a few lucky shots in the 1st. Nothing about GSP’s win was lucky.

I’ll give it up for Serra that 1st fight. Plus, Serra is a likeable guy so it’s hard to be upset about that guy beating anyone. And he was classy as hell in defeat when they fought the 2nd time.

by lbk on Feb 2, 2009 1:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Likable is not something I ever would use to describe Serra. He just completely rubs me the wrong way whenever he talks, but that could just be me.

by iiowyn on Feb 2, 2009 1:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It is. Everyone has their enemies, but I like Serra.

by Luke Thomas on Feb 2, 2009 1:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i agree.

I think he is a genuine guy, and pretty funny… I think people just hate Serra bc anyone who tells the truth about GSP, or has choice words for him becomes public enemy number 1.

by Loot on Feb 2, 2009 2:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It isn’t the GSP thing at all, his attitude and the way he speaks just makes me dislike him a lot.

by iiowyn on Feb 2, 2009 2:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Fair enough =)

by iiowyn on Feb 2, 2009 2:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I liked Serra on TUF.

Serra > Hughes in likeability :)

by xFenixKnightx on Feb 2, 2009 1:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t care for him either.

Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken

by Richard Wade on Feb 2, 2009 2:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree wholeheartedly with this quote.

by Buddha Brown on Feb 2, 2009 1:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

It is weird to dock GSP some manner of credit for his loss to Serra considering GSP absolutely clobbered Serra in their rematch.

Silva has defended his title a few more times thus far and against a few more highly regarded challengers (Franklin, Henderson). Though, you can argue that holding the title doesn’t necessarily matter, considering GSP, since losing to Serra, beat Koscheck, crushed Hughes, crushed Serra, crushed Fitch and crushed BJ.

In short, you won’t get an argument from me if you say either guy is the best pound for pound fighter in the world.

"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard

by Brett Jones on Feb 2, 2009 1:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

GSP can easily take out Anderson

a little Vaseline behind the neck helps with the Muay Thai clinch.

by dualdiagnosis on Feb 2, 2009 1:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Also, when you look at the quality of competition factor, GSP has fought and defeated a tougher schedule of fighters than Silva. you have to factor that in big time.

by lbk on Feb 2, 2009 1:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

But it is hard and its why the P4P title is all talk. It is impossible to compair fighters. Maybe a mini-Rich Franklin at WW cleans out the divition. That would make Silva tops for having crushed him. I mean, when has Silva ever even been bloodied?

by szucconi on Feb 2, 2009 1:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

GSP learned a lesson in the Serra fight. Since that fight, he has dominated his opponents with his wrestling. He utilizes a very cautious stand up game until he finds a take down opportunity. GSP’s strength has always been ground and pound. Since the Serra fight, he doesn’t even attempt to trade. Ground and pound dominated MMA for years until guys with good enough wrestling were able to neutralize it and keep the fight standing. It is interesting that GSP took wrestling to a new level and essentially brought back ground and pound as the most effective style in MMA. Stand and bang is over at 170 pounds until someone is able to out wrestle St. Pierre… which is going to be pretty hard.

by PORkSOdA on Feb 2, 2009 1:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

If you want to argue that the Serra loss tarnishes GSP’s P4P credentials, then you have to also accept that Silva’s loss to Ryo Chonan tarnishes his credentials. In each case, a very good fighter lost in a freakish manner: a lucky punch behind the ear, or a once-in-a-lifetime submission. The only real difference is that GSP has convincingly avenged his loss, but Silva hasn’t (though I don’t think there is much doubt that Silva could easily beat Chonan if given the opportunity).

by smeghead on Feb 2, 2009 2:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Which is why Fedor is the P4P King, as an undersized HW.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Feb 2, 2009 2:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

HW competition isn't near strong enough to warrant Fedor the P4P King, IMO

by Loot on Feb 2, 2009 2:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree. Fedor is a bad dude and an awesome fighter, but the competition just does not compare.

by iiowyn on Feb 2, 2009 2:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

P.S. Anderson Silva lost to more people than JUST Chonan.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Feb 2, 2009 2:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Different times in their respective careers...

Silva has gone undefeated to the UFC crowd… and has been one of the most exciting to do it (see Jon Fitch)… GSP has faltered 2 times right at what seemed to be the start of his peak… and was embarassed by Serra. He is just now hitting his stride, and his popularity should become even more ridiculous as this year, and possible streak progresses…

by Loot on Feb 2, 2009 2:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

How can Dana say that Anderson is #1 P4P and he has Anderson fighting Leites?

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Feb 2, 2009 2:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I recall Fedor being # 1 Fighting HMC...

Thales isn’t some scrub… he worked his way to a title shot… its not as if its some travesty… what are they supposed to not have MW title fights now cuz Silva is the best?

by Loot on Feb 2, 2009 2:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Compared to gsp fighting bj, yes, Leites is a scrub. Not Silvas fault of course, but he’s not fighting anyone with BJ’s skills.

by lbk on Feb 2, 2009 3:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Why the fuck dont they...

have a rematch between Silva and Chonan? Seems logical to me. Same with Okami. I know I am beating a dead horse here though.

by Bandaka on Feb 2, 2009 3:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Chonan fights at 170 now and isn’t even a top 25 Welterweight. Even if he has a victory over Silva, they are just too far apart to make it remotely interesting. It’s not like Silva and Chonan can cut promos like Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock to create hype.

As for Okami though, I really think that fight should happen before people can claim Silva has taken out every top challenger. Too bad that fight won’t happen before the Fall at the earliest. if it happens at all. And GSP and Silva would probably have to keep winning for another year or so before a Silva/GSP superfight were to happen.

by Chromium on Feb 2, 2009 8:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

FEDOR

Best fighter in MMA 2003-present

by smoogy on Feb 2, 2009 4:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

A Silva needs hype (cause he doesn’t draw much PPV), GSP doesn’t, that’s the whole story behind this statement IMO. Everything on how A.Silva lost to ryo chonan has been said already, and Matt Serra>Ryo chonan IMO.

by spectaa on Feb 2, 2009 4:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs