The answer is simple. Once again, Dana White has stated that Anderson Silva and GSP both need to win against their next opponents in order for this match up to even be possible. While many fans aren't giving Shields or Okami much of a chance, they are both very capable of capturing belts. GSP and Silva will both be competing in front of home country crowds. This can either be a big advantage or a big disadvantage. It can go either way depending on the mental state of the athlete on fight night. Shields will be an instant threat to GSP if their bout goes to the ground at any point. Shields is a BJJ wizard and if an opponent of his finds themselves on the ground they are usually not far from being submitted. GSP is a smart tactician so expect him to avoid the ground and look for a TKO in Toronto. Still, Shields is a super dangerous opponent for GSP.

Yushin Okami did get knocked out by Silva in their first match up. But, let's not forget Okami did manage to stay conscious after eating Silva's punishing kickboxing and he even achieved a top position before he got illegally knocked out. They last met over 4 years ago. Both fighters are much better now. However, Okami has improved much more noticeably. Okami's stand up looks decent now and he's got a good lead power jab. Okami and Silva are both southpaws so neither will have a built in advantage in the stand up like a southpaw usually does. Okami is tall middleweight who carries around a lot of muscle mass. It's likely he will be stronger than Silva on fight night.  Okami has also trained with Chael Sonnen to improve his wrestling game. We all know what kind of problems Sonnen style wrestling causes for any opponent, even Silva. If Okami copies Sonnen's game plan against Silva he may or may not be successful. However, since he comes from a judo and wrestling background do not expect to see him get submitted while he's in top position. It's possible that an energized Silva knocks Okami out in the first round after a great sprawl. That doesn't change that fact that Okami is still very dangerous to Silva because of this submission wrestling and judo black belt.

Let's hope both athletes win and we can get a pound for pound match up for the ages. Just don't be surprised if one or both of them don't win. I'd have much rather seen a catch weight p4p bout before these two upcoming title defenses. Weigh in below and let me know how u see it.