A Feud Brews: Wanderlei Silva Wants Anderson Silva
by Michael Rome on Apr 21, 2009 11:13 PM EDT
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Stories of the feud between Anderson Silva and Chute Box are stuff of MMA legend. It's hard to sort fact from fiction, but what we do know is that there were hard feelings after a falling out years ago, and they've come back to the forefront recently.
It started with an interview Anderson Silva did with Brazilian television, where he reportedly called Wanderlei's move to middleweight pretentious, and said Wand would be hurt. Wanderlei did not take it well, and had the following to say to Sherdog:
"He is too cocky. I hope he can read this. … I never talked anything bad about him; I always respected him. He has always been my friend, always respected me, but now he came with that statement. I can’t understand that. I didn’t come down to 185 to face him. Actually I didn’t have that intention. … Changing divisions and fighting the champion would be too pretentious. I should have to have many fights before facing him, but concerning his last statements, I think the way is open and the war is declared."
After Anderson's much-criticized performance Saturday night, Wanderlei slammed Anderson in Fighters Only Magazine:
"If you are going to fight in the main event you have a lot of responsibility because the fans pay to see [the fights] and this [performance] is bad for the sport. Everybody needs to have serious conduct in the fights, respect the fight."
I'd be lying if I said this didn't get me excited. There are some rumors now about an Anderson-Jardine fight as the co-main event of UFC 102, though personally that fight does nothing for me. I don't know what Wanderlei has in the tank, but this is the kind of war that excites me. It probably ends in Wand going down, but you can say that about most Anderson Silva fights, and if Wanderlei can get by Rich Franklin they should do this fight.
I know there are all sorts of problems with this fight, but it has a few intangible factors going for it that other proposed Anderson fights don't have. The guys don't like each other, fans actually care about both guys, and you know both will be extremely motivated. If they're so scared of boring fights, this is one guaranteed to be the opposite.
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i wouldnt be boring.. but it would be a one sided beating..
also,
"If you are going to fight in the main event you have a lot of responsibility because the fans pay to see [the fights] and this [performance] is bad for the sport
wanderlei has got to stop thinking about putting on “exciting” fights and focus more on winning.. He’s at the twilight of his career and he has to win more than be more fan pleasing..
Actually at the twilight of his career putting on exciting fights is what gets him paid and keeps him main eventing.
"Japan is half-Machida" - iiowyn
by Day Man on Apr 21, 2009 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
If he wasn't 32
he would be following Chuck into retirement with 3 devastating KO losses in his last 5 fights. Rashad was Chuck’s only “lights out” KO loss. Crocop, Hendo, and Rampage have all put Wandy to sleep. You gotta love him for always being intense, but if it keeps getting him KO’d he won’t be main eventing OR getting paid.
The drop to middleweight is a great move for him. It seems like he suffered from a lack of reach against Chuck and Rampage. At MW his other tools will be more effective, and he can start dominating guys instead of just “catching” them. It would be a good fight, but I don’t think he would last 5 rounds with the Spider. A rematch with Hendo would be good.
wand cares too much about his fans
and that is the reason he’s my favorite fighter. win or loose, he’ll always be my favorite, but I don’t count him out in a potential silva vs silva scenario.
I love Wandy
and that’s why I don’t want him fighting Anderson (yet). The guy deserves a fight he has a chance at winning and gaining come confidence back. Any win will also give him some credibility for matchups like this which is a tough sell right now with Wandy 1-4 over his last 5. If he loses to Franklin this fight better not happen.
If he loses to Franklin I don’t think even Dana White could spin a Anderson Silva title defense out of this one. Now if Wanderlei beats Franklin then they might have something.
It’s a nice shortcut. Though if he loses they could do a 205 non title fight.
by Michael Rome on Apr 22, 2009 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions
The only way I see that fight going down is either:
A.) Wanderlei goes apeshit and catches Silva
B. – Z.) Anderson Silva’s reach, surgical striking clip Wanderlei as he comes in and ends the fight in under 2 minutes.
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These are indeed the 2 possibilities. Fuck it, I want to see it.
by Michael Rome on Apr 21, 2009 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ll second that… why not
Follow my analysis of all things MMA on BloodyElbow.com
by Leland Roling on Apr 21, 2009 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s probably 90% likely Anderson wins. But that didn’t stop us from having a Leites match. At least this one is intriguing.
by Michael Rome on Apr 21, 2009 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions
That sums it up.
"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 Apr 22, 2009 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions
WAR WANDY!! A Shaved head Wandy is a scary animal. He probably looses this fight, but it’s a significantly much more intriguing match up than Silva/Cote or Silva/Leites. I wonder though, with Andersons desire to move back to 205 if it would be another catch weight.
by mictlantechutli on Apr 21, 2009 11:23 PM EDT reply actions
Indeed!
WAR SHAVED HEAD WANDY!
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
by xFenixKnightx on Apr 21, 2009 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Who’s Jadine?
:P
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
I would be one to talk, lol I fuck up more than Goldy.
:D
Seriously though, theres rumors of this fight? Meh =/ I’d rather see Silva/Marquardt II!
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
by xFenixKnightx on Apr 21, 2009 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions
From Tatame
Look, I have nothing against Wanderlei, I think every person speak what they want. He can say whatever he wants, but I don’t consider a declared war, even because I’m very well settled in relation to what I did and do in the UFC. Regardless of everything, I want to make very clear to everyone that I didn’t get here for nothing, I’m no fool. I started like any other fighter, did a well done job
and Wanderlei is a great champion, deserves all my respect. People say that I commented about training… I didn’t comment about training, even because this has no sense. Is a code of honor that all black belt has… People say what they want. I respect everyone, Demian, Thales, Wanderlei, all my opponents. I never lacked with respect to anyone, but also I’m not afraid of anyone. I’m here to fight anyone, I always fought, but about this, “war”… First, to have a war there must be disagreements. I’m ok, I’m not worried about this and people have to stop talking about me.
by The Bronzeville Bully on Apr 21, 2009 11:26 PM EDT reply actions
Can Wanderlei win a fight weighing less than 200 pounds before we start hyping him against Silva?
by Derek Suboticki on Apr 21, 2009 11:26 PM EDT reply actions
I never thought there would be so much talk of a fighter, who is 1-4 in his last 5, fighting one of the top P4P fighters in a title match
In my worthless opinion, Anderson needs an exciting fight to get back on track. Exciting fights are what Wandy does best. Maybe it’s not the most competitive match up, but Wandy doesn’t back down and would be in Andersons face until he got the KO, or got KO’d. I get excited just thinking about it!
by mictlantechutli on Apr 21, 2009 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Sometimes you just have to toss the rankings and records out the window and let that inner fanboy out. This is one of those legend vs legend superfights that should get people’s attention or at least help them forget that the UFC actually thought Cote and Leites were title contenders at 185. I don’t think anyone is actually thinking Wanderlei Silva is going to win this thing but we do know he won’t flop on the mat at least.
I don’t understand how setting up Anderson with another fighter he should crush is going to help people forget about Cote and Leites, or get him motivated at all.
I also assume you guys were also on board with the Fedor vs Zulu and Fedor vs Choi fights too
by EazyEismydad on Apr 22, 2009 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions
It is nothing at all like Fedor vs Zulu/Choi it is a real fight with a guy who is going to go in there and try to take Anderson Silva’s head off his body. Wanderlei Silva is a former world champion who has fought the best the sport has to offer not some giant oaf they dug up to be a punching bag for Fedor.
The Bobby Lashley name drop is really worthless too for that matter, I mean come on who would compare Wanderlei Silva to Bobby Freaken Lashley?
Yeah you are right. Lashley is on a win streak
by EazyEismydad on Apr 22, 2009 4:27 AM EDT up reply actions
Bobby Lashley was thinking about trying out for TUF, Wanderlei Silva is a legend in the sport with over 40 fights and held the Pride Middleweight belt from 2001 to 2007. Heck the guys Wanderlei Silva lost to in those last 5 fights were all top 5 fighters at the time he fought them, while Anderson Silva has been fighting James Irvin, Patrick Cote and Thales Leites in his last three fights.
I know who each fighter is don’t worry. I’m just saying that in an organization where Jon Fitch has to go 8-0 just inside the UFC to get a title shot, a guy who is 1-4 better clean out the top of the division before getting a shot
by EazyEismydad on Apr 22, 2009 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Wanderlei Silva is still the 6th ranked LightHeavyweight and if he’d beat Rampage Jackson we would be talking about him being in line for a title shot in that division. You say he’s 1-4 but he’s 32-9 and his last 5 fights have all been against some of the toughest competition in the sport, he’s a long way from just being a 1-4 fighter he’s a consistant top ten talent who is a win or two off of a title shot in whatever division he ends up in, if he beats the last 185 champion Rich Franklin then obviously his name is going to jump right into the mix at 185 contenders.
Wanderlei Silva isn’t Jon Fitch and you are also talking about an organization where Randy Couture could retire after dropping 3 of 5 then decide to come back to a weight class he hadn’t even fought in in years and get a immediate title shot (and win) too, a organization where BJ Penn gets a Welterweight shot for no real reason besides a grudge match, Brock Lesnar gets a title fight with a 2-1 MMA record Tito Ortiz gets a title shot after beating Ken Shamrock twice and Rampage Jackson got his shot against Chuck Liddell based on the fact that he held a win over Chuck Liddell from 4 years earlier. Guys with big time name recognition or championship history sometimes get a quicker road to travel.
Because this fight is a lot more than just a fight between two guys for one for all practical purposes it’s a super fight between two of the sport’s top names. Wanderlei Silva is heading towards the end of his career and he has had a number of setbacks but he is still Wanderlei Silva. Wanderlei has a decent shot at winning any fight he is put into and heck if this was 2006 he would be the odds on favorite to kill Anderson Silva in the cage, even in Bizzaro world no one ever thought that Patrick Cote or Thales Leites belonged in the same arena with Anderson Silva. Add in the bad blood that is brewing and the old Chute Box stuff that could fill out a entire pre-fight show and you have something that could really get fans attention (another thing Cote and Leites were never going to do). Also if all the big fight hype and Wanderlei Silva trask talk doesn’t get Anderson SIlva motivated for the fight then the guy really does need to just quit the sport.
Why should he be motivated. This is another fight where if he doesn’t knock his opponents head into the stands in round 1, then the fans are going to give him crap
by EazyEismydad on Apr 22, 2009 4:31 AM EDT up reply actions
Why is that? You seem to be stuck thinking of Wanderlei Silva as the guy who lost a couple of his last fights but good grief he is also a guy who has done amazing things in this sport and is on of it’s true stars. Lets face it it this would still be the biggest named star Anderson Silva has ever faced fans would expect a competitive fight (hell casual fans were still buying into Chuck Liddell being Chuck Liddell for his last 5 fights even thought he had lost 4 of them) as opposed to Anderson Silva fighting some guy they had never heard of (what casual fan followed Cote or Leites?). I don’t see why you are so down on Wanderlei Silva?
Wanderlei just hasn’t looked good since Pride folded. The Jardine fight is his only exception, but I don’t give much credit to quick KOs (Houston Alexander did the same to Jardine). With Anderson’s overwhelming reach, massive power, elusiveness, and pinpoint accuracy this is a match custom made for him to have an easy KO. I can’t imagine Wanderlei catching him, its just silly.
Also, most fans have very short memories. The casual fan will see this match and think its a joke.
by EazyEismydad on Apr 22, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions
You are clearly extremely disconnected from the casual fan. You want a Marquardt match, most casual fans would barely know him as the guy with a beard.
by Michael Rome on Apr 22, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
You guys are so disappointing
Don’t you know that you are supposed to overreact immediately following a fight if you are on the internet?
Ergo, Wanderlei will beat Anderson’s ass. Didn’t you see his fight with Leites? He looked terrible.
Man the idea of this is exciting. If anything Wanderlei Silva’s name alone pushes interest beyond anything Anderson Silva has done in quite a while and Wanderlei does know how to sell a event. Heck if Wanderlei can beat Franklin this fight would even make sense in terms of a title defense(well they could spin it to makes sense in terms of a title defense at least).
I love Rich and I like Wand....
I don’t think I’d ever route against Rich, but I’d love to see Wand/Anderson. If Wand can beat Rich at 185, maybe he is the #1 contender.
I’d like to see it, I have a feeling it would be a pretty one sided beating with Anderson circling and picking Wandy apart with the significant reach advantage.
It certainly would be a lot more exciting, even on paper than Leites and you can bet your ass Wanderlei would NOT let Anderson piss around and showboat.
Can we bring back stomps and soccer kicks for this one?
Keep firing Assholes!
Akiyama is the Japanese word for Sexify.
by Ubernoober on Apr 22, 2009 12:21 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Wandy vs Bisping first...
Top contender at 185 now is either Marquardt or Bisping but Marquardt already had his shot. Wandy should be required to take at least 1 non-title fight before Anderson and Bisping would be a compelling matchup for Wandy and gatekeeper fight for Anderson.
I'd feel bad about watching Wandy get destroyed...
… but I want to see it. Wandy’s got a puncher’s chance, and the prefight hype about how much they despise each other would be legendary. Make it so, Zuffa.
I love me some Sexyama!
yes and no
I sympathize with the fanboy sentiment expressed by Rome and echoed by a lot of the comments above. It would be a pretty cool fight, stylistically and energetically. But another side of me can’t accept it – yet.
Wanderlei is coming off several knockout losses, while Anderson seems invincible right now. It would be like matching Fedor against someone on par with Gonzaga. This offends me as an armchair ranker/matchmaker, as someone who enjoys logical match-making.
But it also bothers me as a fan. As a fan of Anderson, I’m sick of seeing him underchallenged. I want him in superfights against GSP, or Top-5 LHWs. As a fan of Wanderlei, I truly have no stomach for picturing him sprawled on his back with his mouth open and his eyes rolled back, as I’ve seen him 3 times already.
There’s a way to make the fight more palatable down the road. Wanderlei needs to win at least two more fights, against elite MWs or LHWs. That begins with Franklin. A decisive win for Wanderlei would catapult him to the top and spread terror in the 185 ranks. A loss would indefintely delay, and probably end his dreams of a title run.
In the meantime, Anderson needs to continue his unbeaten streak, but against true challengers. Anderson needs to take out a top LHW, like Rua, Jackson or Jardine. Next, assuming GSP gets past Alves, a superfight between Anderson and St-Pierre is in order. Alternatively, Silva can face the winner Henderson-Bisping, as advertised.
Say Anderson Silva goes on to knock out Keith Jardine, then win a 5 round war against Georges St-Pierre. And picture Wanderlei Silva outpointing Rich Franklin then knocking out Nate Marquardt or Yushin Okami.
At the point, the case could be made for Anderson Silva vs Wanderlei Silva, and all our fanboy dreams can be realized.
unfortunately your series of events would never happen because Wandy won’t beat Rich…
I definitely think Anderson Silva should fight Jardine though.
Here’s an interesting question – would GSP beat Wand? Think about 2 years ago how ridiculous that would sound. I think the answer is now invariably, yes….via GnP.
Think GSP would definitely get KOed by AS though.
Reminiscing
I’ve been waiting for someone to post this so I can make this comment.
Imagine looking back, going back 4 years to 2005. Shogun was the Pride MW GP Champ and Wand was still near invincible (losing only a decision to Arona).
At that point Wand would have been odds on to absolutely destroy Anderson Silva. There would be no question about it. Considering that they’re of similar age, that’s truly fascinating.
At that point nobody, and I mean seriously nobody would have picked GSP over Wanderlei Silva. At this point I think a majority would.
Would I love to see Wand fight AS. Not really – I would prefer AS to have a challenge instead. At this point I’m pretty sure AS would beat most of the LHW division. The only read question mark would be Lyoto and a fight between those two would be at such a high level that I wouldn’t know what to expect. He also might lose to Rashad as well but that’s about it. Otherwise Anderson Silva could rip through the LHW division.
One thing the last few posts are missing is the reality of the Anderson Silva debacle for the UFC. They absolutely will not put him in with one of their marketable LHW stars, such as Quinton, Rashad, or Forrest. The highest end guy he can fight is Jardine, the same guy who got knocked out by Wanderlei Silva in about a minute. That fight is not going to draw flies, will probably be boring, and is mostly meaningless. Anderson’s 205 options look like: Jardine, Cane, or someone else on that level.
It also strikes me you’re ignoring the disaster they just had of a second straight boring ass Anderson Silva fight. If Cote and Leites were getting shots, there’s no reason to have some kind of strict standard now. If Wand can be the only guy to KO Franklin besides Silva and Machida, there’s enough justification for a shot. We are long since past any logical matchmaking at middleweight. Okami was passed over and will never get his shot, now Maia likely loses his because of what happened Saturday. They need to salvage their investment, not justify their title match based on rankings.
by Michael Rome on Apr 22, 2009 3:36 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I agree with that, in a division whose last two title challengers were Patrick Cote and Thales Leites I don’t see where living legend of the sport Wanderlei Silva is that much of a stretch.
Sometimes guys like Wanderlei Silva, Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell, Matt Hughes or BJ Penn(the logic to his Welterweight title shot is pretty sketchy) get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to match ups due to how much they have done in the sport in the past. Heck Randy Couture is a prime example, he retired after losing 3 of 5 fights and then came out of retirement to get a instant Heavyweight title shot even though he hadn’t even fought at heavyweight since 2002, no one gave him a chance in hell at beating giant sized Tim Sylvia and look what happened with that. People shouldn’t sleep on this potential match up because we have all thought a guy had no chance in hell going in and were flat out wrong, championship level veterans have a tendancy to rise to the occasion, that’s how they got to that level to start with.
Rec’d for complete agreement.
"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 Apr 22, 2009 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions
And just as one other point…Jardine has lost 3 of 5, 2 by brutal KO. As compared to Wand, who has lost 4 of 5, 3 by brutal KO. I think acting like Jardine is somehow on a tear and a big challenge while Wand isn’t is kind of silly, I mean one of those losses for Jardine was to Houston, and one was to Wanderlei Silva himself.
I’m definitely not in favor of giving him this match immediately or anything, but if he can KO Rich, why not? I think Rich is a tough fight for him, but I also think fans have overreacted to the Rampage fight and are now underestimating Silva, who possesses some tools that will give Rich Franklin problems.
Anderson destroyed Rich twice
so why would Wand defeating him mean anything?
Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.
Rich Franklin is the former 185lb champion who only has 4 losses on his record and two of those are to Anderson Silva.
Yes, and I love Rich.
But Wand beating a guy that Silva has already destroyed twice does not do much to mean he has earned a title shot.
Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.
Beating Rich puts him in an elite class of fighters at a level above his last 3 fights. Again, why create this stringent bar for contendership after 2 jokes of contenders in his last 2?
by Michael Rome on Apr 22, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
If we were not talking about Wanderlei Silva we would not even be
having this discussion. Any other fighter who has (possibly if he beats Franklin) 2 wins in the UFC would not even be considered. I understand the possible excitement to see if Wand still has anything left, but other than the possibility of that there would be no reason for this fight to happen. People complained about Cote & Leites getting a shot with way better records in the UFC & now we want to talk about giving someone a shot with 2 wins?
Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.
Compare who Wanderlei Silva has been fighting to who Cote or Leites were fighting and look at their entire careers not just their records and accomplishments in the UFC. Wanderlei Silva is still ranked 6 in the Lightheavyweight division and if he’d beaten Rampage we’d be talking about him getting a Lightheavyweight title shot. Yes former champions tend to get easier routes back to title shots they have already proved what they are capable of.
It does not matter who Wand has been fighting because he has been losing.
And no, his entire career does not come into play either. Do we bring Crocop in & put him right into a title shot because his Pride career? And rankings, schmankings! They do not mean anything. Wand has not proven what he is capable of in the UFC, defeating Jardine does not do it.
Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.
Dan Henderson came in and immediatly fought Rampage and Anderson Silva back to back based entirely on what he did in his Pride career, for that matter Rampage came in and got a title shot against Chuck after one fight in the UFC because of his Pride career containing a win over Chuck Liddell, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira came in and got a UFC title fight after one fight because of his Pride career even Cro Cop was set to get a title fight if he beat Gonzaga(which was set up as a fight he was supposed to win) even though he had just came into the UFC based on his Pride record . The UFC owns Pride that is part of the UFC now. Hell Brock Lesnar got a title fight with a 2-1 lifetime record based on his athleticism and potential and drawing power.
by who me on Apr 22, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Do half the guys who get title shots “earn” them? Hell Did Thales Leites or Patrick Cote earn their shots? Beating Rich Franklin is more impressive than either of them did before their fights with Anderson Silva.
I think the point is that the mw division went pretty much like this Silva then a HUGE drop off Rich then a big drop off tand then everyone else. The reason we had to see Rich get destroyed the second time by Silva and the reason he has to leave the weight class is because the other top 185 pounders cant beat Rich he simply dominates them. So if Wand can beat Rich I do believe that they could make a case for him getting a title shot. On top of that they need to market Silva and no fight w/ Wand involved will ever be boring. A highlight real KO over a top name might be just what the UFC ( and Silva) needs.
I think that most people are interested in this potential matchup
because everyone hopes the Wand of old can come back. This just will not be the case against Anderson IMO. This would more than likely end up a highlight KO on Anderson’s reel.
Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.
I think people like the idea of this fight because
Wandy would make Anderson knock him out to win the fight. Wandy, right or wrong, intellegent or not, won’t back up, butt scoot, or any other delaying mechanism.
The way Wandy fights, one of them is going to sleep. I don’t think it matters to Wandy that its a 99% chance that it will be him.
Right, I agree with that.
But other than seeing Anderson knock someone out again this fight does not interest me as it will not be competitive. Even if Wand goes apeshit on Anderson, the Spider will likely just stay outside drilling Wand every time he comes within range & then circle out.
Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.
It interests me alot more than
seeing a champion go outside his weight class for a interesting fight.
I have no interest in seeing Anderson Silva fighting at 205 unless it means he is vacating the 185 title and pursuing the 205 one as a permanent move.
At least a fight with Wandy at 185 puts the title on the line and creates some more excitement in the MW division. Both of which the MW could use.
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