We are one step closer to the super fight we have all wanted to
see for years.
On a media conference call today promoting next weekend’s
massive UFC 154 event, UFC president Dana White confirmed that UFC middleweight
champion Anderson Silva will travel to Montreal, Quebec, Canada and enter the
Octagon at Bell Centre to challenge UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre
to a “super fight” should the French-Canadian get by UFC interim welterweight
champion Carlos Condit.
Wow.
Although the Silva vs. St-Pierre super fight has been bandied
about for years, many believed it was just a way for the UFC to build hype. Not
anymore, though. Never before has Silva been so open about his desire to fight
St-Pierre, and never before has he sat cageside at an event with the goal of
calling out St-Pierre.
about for years, many believed it was just a way for the UFC to build hype. Not
anymore, though. Never before has Silva been so open about his desire to fight
St-Pierre, and never before has he sat cageside at an event with the goal of
calling out St-Pierre.
St-Pierre, to his credit, shied away on the media call from
making comments about Silva, insisting his focus remains on unifying the
170-pound titles against Condit next Saturday. The long-time champion is
fighting for the first time since April 2011, so it makes sense that his focus
is completely on Condit, as he’ll be battling ring rust as well as fighting on
his reconstructed knee for the very first time. If he defeats Condit — which
the oddsmakers believe will be the case, as he’s a 3.5 to 1 favourite – expect
him to turn his focus to Silva, but until Condit is “eliminated,” as the
Montreal native likes to say, don’t expect any more comments about “The
Spider.”
making comments about Silva, insisting his focus remains on unifying the
170-pound titles against Condit next Saturday. The long-time champion is
fighting for the first time since April 2011, so it makes sense that his focus
is completely on Condit, as he’ll be battling ring rust as well as fighting on
his reconstructed knee for the very first time. If he defeats Condit — which
the oddsmakers believe will be the case, as he’s a 3.5 to 1 favourite – expect
him to turn his focus to Silva, but until Condit is “eliminated,” as the
Montreal native likes to say, don’t expect any more comments about “The
Spider.”
If the Silva vs. St-Pierre fight indeed happens, Whiteconfirmed that the bout would take place at one of three locations – Rogers Centre
in Toronto, Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, or at a soccer stadium in Brazil. The
event would be one of the most highly-anticipated bouts in the history of mixed
martial arts and it could break not only the 55,000+ attendance record that
Rogers Centre currently holds, but also the 1.6 million pay-per-view buys
record that UFC 100 holds.
Silva vs. St-Pierre would be a battle of arguably the No. 1 and
No. 2 pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Silva, 33-4, hasn’t lost a bout
since 2006, and has won 16 straight fights in the UFC, including ten title
defences and three wins over 205-pound fighters. He’s also the record holder
for the most post-fight bonuses in UFC history and is considered by all to be
one of the most dynamic, exciting, and unique fighters to ever step into the
cage.
No. 2 pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Silva, 33-4, hasn’t lost a bout
since 2006, and has won 16 straight fights in the UFC, including ten title
defences and three wins over 205-pound fighters. He’s also the record holder
for the most post-fight bonuses in UFC history and is considered by all to be
one of the most dynamic, exciting, and unique fighters to ever step into the
cage.
St-Pierre, on the other hand, is 22-2 in his career and is 16-2
in the UFC. He hasn’t lost since 2007, and is currently on a nine-fight win
streak. He is considered by many to be the greatest welterweight fighter of all
time, and although his wrestling-heavy game has been criticized in the past, he
is a winner through and through.
in the UFC. He hasn’t lost since 2007, and is currently on a nine-fight win
streak. He is considered by many to be the greatest welterweight fighter of all
time, and although his wrestling-heavy game has been criticized in the past, he
is a winner through and through.
It’s not clear at this point what weight class the Silva vs.
St-Pierre fight would take place, but a 177.5 pound catchweight number has been
bandied about by White, which would be exactly halfway between both fighters’
current weight divisions. It’s also possible that Silva could move down to 170,
where he started his career, or St-Pierre could move up to 185, which he has
talked about doing in the past.
St-Pierre fight would take place, but a 177.5 pound catchweight number has been
bandied about by White, which would be exactly halfway between both fighters’
current weight divisions. It’s also possible that Silva could move down to 170,
where he started his career, or St-Pierre could move up to 185, which he has
talked about doing in the past.
Regardless of what weight this fight takes place at if it ever
happens, there’s no doubt this would be one of the most intriguing fights in
combat sports history and is the perfect fight to re-ignite interest in the UFC
and MMA after a down year in 2012. The only thing that could stop it from
happening? Condit.
happens, there’s no doubt this would be one of the most intriguing fights in
combat sports history and is the perfect fight to re-ignite interest in the UFC
and MMA after a down year in 2012. The only thing that could stop it from
happening? Condit.
Wow, silva sure is the GOAT.
Loitering in a cleared out division for 4 years and then challenging a smaller man.