Anderson Silva Out Until 2013

Just watched a little media scrum with Dana White, post UFC 150. He had some interesting stuff to say. The most interesting comment I found was when he said Anderson Silva will not fight again until 2013.

I put this in the UFC forum since I don't have a link, but the video is on YouTube. Anyhow, Dana said that after Sonnen-Silva II, Silva requested some time off. Apparently his grueling fucking schedule of fighting no more than twice a year is getting to him. I mean, I guess I should cut him some slack since his last fight almost went two whole rounds.

Anyone else pissed off to hear this? I respect Silva as one of the best of all time, but this is insane to me. He just came through the Sonnen fight in way better shape than last time. It's not like Middleweight is wanting for challengers. Weidman is primed and ready to go. But we know how Silva feels about that fight.

I want UFC champions to defend their belt with some regularity. I understand not everyone, especially champions, can fight three or more times a year. But I'd like to see one of them try. Especially the aging champ who is supposed to be the best ever, who already has declared he is not long for the fight game.

I sure am P$ sounds like another excuse to not fight Weidman. Anderson wants to remain champ until atleast 2013 is the vibe I'm getting from all of this.

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Posted by sparky

I sure am P$ sounds like another excuse to not fight Weidman. Anderson wants to remain champ until atleast 2013 is the vibe I'm getting from all of this.

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Man weidman ain't going to beat Silva. If the weidman that fought munoz showed up weidman would lose. He couldn't sub him. What makes you think he could Silva??? And if he stood with Silva like he did munoz ain't no fucking way he would land an elbow like he did.


If the weidman that fought maia fights Silva he'll lose faster.


This weidman hype train is worse than Sonnen's. At least Sonnen beat more than 1 top 10 guy to get to fight Silva. Not a rusty fighter coming off an injury.

Dana wants to keep his prize pony for a bit longer. I think he wants to let the division sort out a contender more clearly.

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Posted by SpiderSilva

Man weidman ain't going to beat Silva. If the weidman that fought munoz showed up weidman would lose. He couldn't sub him. What makes you think he could Silva??? And if he stood with Silva like he did munoz ain't no fucking way he would land an elbow like he did.


If the weidman that fought maia fights Silva he'll lose faster.


This weidman hype train is worse than Sonnen's. At least Sonnen beat more than 1 top 10 guy to get to fight Silva. Not a rusty fighter coming off an injury.

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Spider, you are sounding more like Sonnen right now!

I love how everyone discounts Weidman's short-notice, huge weight cut involving win against one of the highest level BJJ blackbelts ever in the UFC. Maia is a world champion grappler so many times over it's redundant, and he got grapplefucked until his butt hurt. Silva sure can't say that he put on a similar performance. He stayed as far away as he could from Maia's wheelhouse.

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Posted by pmoney
Spider, you are sounding more like Sonnen right now!

I love how everyone discounts Weidman's short-notice, huge weight cut involving win against one of the highest level BJJ blackbelts ever in the UFC. Maia is a world champion grappler so many times over it's redundant, and he got grapplefucked until his butt hurt. Silva sure can't say that he put on a similar performance. He stayed as far away as he could from Maia's wheelhouse.

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Weidman is a really good up and coming fighter but to think he is a real threat to Silva at this time is little crazy. I like Weidman and think one day he maybe the UFC MW champ, but I don't think he is ready for Silva.

I hate how people discount Silva's skill level. Weidman has only been fighting since 2009 and fought only 9 times his hole professional career. Only 2 of Wiedman's wins have been against top 10 MWs. Silva has been fighting top 10 fighters 2x longer than Weidman has even been fighting. Silva has fought top 10 MW weights 13x and 1 top 10 LHW that was a x-champ. Not only did he beat these fighters he destroyed almost everyone of them. I have never seen a fighter get beat the way he beat Forrest, he made him look like a child.

Now I'm not saying it doesn't suck if he is really taking time off but I be damned if the man hasn't earned it.

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Posted by infestructure

Dana wants to keep his prize pony for a bit longer. I think he wants to let the division sort out a contender more clearly.

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I don't think Weidman is ready yet imo. Boetsch v Weidman for number 1 contender makes the most sense to me. So by the time that happens 2013 sounds about right. It annoys me a little he is requesting some time off. It's not like he's been crazy busy like Jones. It's not like he slowing down either. That's just my opinion though.

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Posted by telnights

Weidman is a really good up and coming fighter but to think he is a real threat to Silva at this time is little crazy. I like Weidman and think one day he maybe the UFC MW champ, but I don't think he is ready for Silva.

I hate how people discount Silva's skill level. Weidman has only been fighting since 2009 and fought only 9 times his hole professional career. Only 2 of Wiedman's wins have been against top 10 MWs. Silva has been fighting top 10 fighters 2x longer than Weidman has even been fighting. Silva has fought top 10 MW weights 13x and 1 top 10 LHW that was a x-champ. Not only did he beat these fighters he destroyed almost everyone of them. I have never seen a fighter get beat the way he beat Forrest, he made him look like a child.

Now I'm not saying it doesn't suck if he is really taking time off but I be damned if the man hasn't earned it.

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You have some good points brah! And I am definitely not discounting Silva's skill set, he's finished just about everyone he has faced. But he hasn't fought more than twice a year in lord knows how long, and I find that frustrating. Especially when, as you said, he destroys everyone.

As far as Weidman being a legit threat, I dont know how he can't be considered as such. He only has 9 fights, sure. But 5 of them have been in the UFC, and he has looked better with just about every outing while facing progressively tougher competition. I don't recall him ever being in any adverse position. And those are statements usually reserved for Jon Jones or Silva fights. Hell, I find Weidman's win over Munoz almost more impressive than Silva's win over Forrest. Weidman dominated everywhere. And that was the guy who was brought in to coach Silva in wrestling.

I could see Weidman taking Chael's gameplan and finishing the job. I can also see Silva KO'ing Weidman before he gets close enough to grapple. I wouldn't be surprised by either outcome.

i am ready for andy to retire. i got no problem with him fighting weidman or anybody else, but after waiting for the chael fight, then waiting for this bendo/edgar rematch, i fuckin sick of weight classes being on hold because of champions/injuries/rematches etc.

Silva vs Weidman was a little premature in my opinion, but at least it would have kept Silva busy.......Silva, IMO, waits until 2013I only to fight Jon Jones. Either that or he defends the belt. Wasting away, fighting no one is a waste to me.

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Posted by telnights

Weidman is a really good up and coming fighter but to think he is a real threat to Silva at this time is little crazy. I like Weidman and think one day he maybe the UFC MW champ, but I don't think he is ready for Silva.

I hate how people discount Silva's skill level. Weidman has only been fighting since 2009 and fought only 9 times his hole professional career. Only 2 of Wiedman's wins have been against top 10 MWs. Silva has been fighting top 10 fighters 2x longer than Weidman has even been fighting. Silva has fought top 10 MW weights 13x and 1 top 10 LHW that was a x-champ. Not only did he beat these fighters he destroyed almost everyone of them. I have never seen a fighter get beat the way he beat Forrest, he made him look like a child.

Now I'm not saying it doesn't suck if he is really taking time off but I be damned if the man hasn't earned it.

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You could have said the same thing about Jon Jones or Brock Lesnar. That pendulum swings two ways. Jon Jones seemed to ragdoll everyone else despite limited experience. Hell, Weidman's first 5 fights were a lot tougher than Jones'.

Brock Lesnar's first 5 fights were tougher than Jones' as well, but you know what all three of these guys have in common? They all looked just so much better than their competition during those fights. Weidman has looked and shown more than Jon Jones or Brock Lesnar showed during their first five fights. He's won every single way possible and done it against better competition than Jones.

Just saying.

I dislike this news, but there seems to be a silver lining here. The middleweight division can find a definite contender in the next six months as it gives time for Weidman, Bisping, Boetsch, and maybe Evans to sort out a pecking order while establishing one or two as bona fide contenders that have a perceivable chance at dethroning the UFC's longest-reigning champion. The myriad of possibilities that are floating around now should be a little more limited in six months, and if Weidman is "the guy" a showcase fight on a pay-per-view would not hurt the UFC's ability to sell him.

I do wonder how far into 2013 Silva plans on sitting out until. February or March would be a proper turn-around time for a champion that wants to fight twice yearly, which every champion should. (Jones should slow down soon. He will have exhausted the gauntlet if he aces the Henderson test next month and find himself in a similar position to Anderson Silva, Jose Aldo, and at one time Georges St. Pierre.)

Hopefully this all ends in a "superfight" and Silva hangs up the gloves afterwards.

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Posted by lohmann

I dislike this news, but there seems to be a silver lining here. The middleweight division can find a definite contender in the next six months as it gives time for Weidman, Bisping, Boetsch, and maybe Evans to sort out a pecking order while establishing one or two as bona fide contenders that have a perceivable chance at dethroning the UFC's longest-reigning champion. The myriad of possibilities that are floating around now should be a little more limited in six months, and if Weidman is "the guy" a showcase fight on a pay-per-view would not hurt the UFC's ability to sell him.

I do wonder how far into 2013 Silva plans on sitting out until. February or March would be a proper turn-around time for a champion that wants to fight twice yearly, which every champion should. (Jones should slow down soon. He will have exhausted the gauntlet if he aces the Henderson test next month and find himself in a similar position to Anderson Silva, Jose Aldo, and at one time Georges St. Pierre.)

Hopefully this all ends in a "superfight" and Silva hangs up the gloves afterwards.

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You make and bring up some excellent points here. I was actually thinking about what Telnights said a little more after I posted. I think there's a lot of truths in what he said, I'm just not sure I agree with all of them. But, with Dana allowing Anderson some time off, I completely agree with you that the MW division could really use this time to set themselves up for the forthcoming departure of Anderson.

Dana's probably realizing that he is entering uncharted waters with Silva. Dude has been at the top for so long that it seems more and more likely that the next guy to hold the belt might have to win it in a "tournament" because Anderson retired before he was beaten. Dana realized he needs to have a succession plan for Silva. Whether someone beats him or he retires on top, Dana needs to set that division up for his departure. It's coming sooner rather than later.

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Posted by SpiderSilva

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Posted by sparky

I sure am P$ sounds like another excuse to not fight Weidman. Anderson wants to remain champ until atleast 2013 is the vibe I'm getting from all of this.

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Man weidman ain't going to beat Silva. If the weidman that fought munoz showed up weidman would lose. He couldn't sub him. What makes you think he could Silva??? And if he stood with Silva like he did munoz ain't no fucking way he would land an elbow like he did.


If the weidman that fought maia fights Silva he'll lose faster.


This weidman hype train is worse than Sonnen's. At least Sonnen beat more than 1 top 10 guy to get to fight Silva. Not a rusty fighter coming off an injury.

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you officially cant recognize talent period...Weidman will destroy Silva....The fight will end up on the ground but Weidman will sub Silva...Weidman has destroyed everyone hes fought except Maia but he took that on ten days and cut 20 pounds...

What did Silva do to Maia? With a whole camp...Silva is great of course but he also had a padded record...His best win is against an aging rusty Vitor...

Weidmans strengths are Silvas weakness...He doesnt want the fight...Silva is very popular and has big sponsorship deals in Brazil and all woulod come down with a loss...

I would bet against you one of us to leave the MMAPlayground forever on that fight....

Weidman will own the division like Jon Jones in LHW...People who simply say hes not quite ready or this or that are just haters....Give some facts on how hes not ready...

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Posted by telnights

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Posted by pmoney
Spider, you are sounding more like Sonnen right now!

I love how everyone discounts Weidman's short-notice, huge weight cut involving win against one of the highest level BJJ blackbelts ever in the UFC. Maia is a world champion grappler so many times over it's redundant, and he got grapplefucked until his butt hurt. Silva sure can't say that he put on a similar performance. He stayed as far away as he could from Maia's wheelhouse.

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Weidman is a really good up and coming fighter but to think he is a real threat to Silva at this time is little crazy. I like Weidman and think one day he maybe the UFC MW champ, but I don't think he is ready for Silva.

I hate how people discount Silva's skill level. Weidman has only been fighting since 2009 and fought only 9 times his hole professional career. Only 2 of Wiedman's wins have been against top 10 MWs. Silva has been fighting top 10 fighters 2x longer than Weidman has even been fighting. Silva has fought top 10 MW weights 13x and 1 top 10 LHW that was a x-champ. Not only did he beat these fighters he destroyed almost everyone of them. I have never seen a fighter get beat the way he beat Forrest, he made him look like a child.

Now I'm not saying it doesn't suck if he is really taking time off but I be damned if the man hasn't earned it.

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State some specific reasons why Weidman isnt ready...Its being childish to make a statement like that and dont state reasons why...Hes headlined a main event on Fox...hes fought in World Abu Dahbi BJJ...after one year in BJJ...IM sorry but being a great wrestler with BJJ is much more dangerous than Silvas BJJ...

You obviously are a SIlva lover....

I would make the same bet with you if Silva doesnt take it...I got Weidman u get Silva loser leaves the playground forever...

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Posted by kingsmasher


I would bet against you one of us to leave the MMAPlayground forever on that fight....

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I know who I'm rooting for

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Posted by kingsmasher

you officially cant recognize talent period...Weidman will destroy Silva....The fight will end up on the ground but Weidman will sub Silva...Weidman has destroyed everyone hes fought except Maia but he took that on ten days and cut 20 pounds...

What did Silva do to Maia? With a whole camp...Silva is great of course but he also had a padded record...His best win is against an aging rusty Vitor...

Weidmans strengths are Silvas weakness...He doesnt want the fight...Silva is very popular and has big sponsorship deals in Brazil and all woulod come down with a loss...

I would bet against you one of us to leave the MMAPlayground forever on that fight....

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I'm not sure I'd be telling a mod that they can't recognize talent at all and that I'd bet one of us leaving the playground on that fact, but that's just me.

While I don't share your enthusiasm, I think Weidman would beat Silva, but I think it's interesting that you seem to think Silva would lose his endorsements with a loss. Athletes lose all the time and don't lose their sponsorship deals. Especially HOF athletes.

I think Weidman will win, but there's not a lot of evidence to support your theory that his endorsement deals would come tumbling because of a single loss in like a gajillion years. I think you're being a tad dramatic.

This is all about Silvas sponsorship deals that will go away in two years when he loses...Silva needs to retire as a champ more than likely to keep the deals on going...IMHO

After seeing Munoz get wiped over the floor I dont think Silvas in a hurry to take the fight...Munoz coached Silva in an area he was quite embarrassed by Weidman in the fight...

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Posted by kingsmasher

This is all about Silvas sponsorship deals that will go away in two years when he loses...Silva needs to retire as a champ more than likely to keep the deals on going...IMHO

After seeing Munoz get wiped over the floor I dont think Silvas in a hurry to take the fight...Munoz coached Silva in an area he was quite embarrassed by Weidman in the fight...

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What the hell are you talking about? Silva could endorse shit for the rest of his life. Fuck, Heisman trophy winners that are NFL busts endorse shit for the rest of their lives.

Where are you coming up with this stuff?

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Posted by BlueSkiesBurn
You could have said the same thing about Jon Jones or Brock Lesnar. That pendulum swings two ways. Jon Jones seemed to ragdoll everyone else despite limited experience. Hell, Weidman's first 5 fights were a lot tougher than Jones'.

Brock Lesnar's first 5 fights were tougher than Jones' as well, but you know what all three of these guys have in common? They all looked just so much better than their competition during those fights. Weidman has looked and shown more than Jon Jones or Brock Lesnar showed during their first five fights. He's won every single way possible and done it against better competition than Jones.

Just saying.

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Jones had 7 fights in the UFC before getting a shot and was only give one then because Evans was hurt. You add the fact that he was fighting Shogun for the belt and not what most consider to be the greatest fighter of all time. Also saying Weidman's fights have been tougher than Jones is very debatable.

Lesnar was fighting in a weight class that has very few top levels fighters to begin with. You also have to take in to account he is a huge draw and that time the UFC HW division was very thin.

Now let me say again I'm not saying Weidman isn't a solid up and comer, but I think some are very much blinded by the fact they don't like Silva and really want someone to beat him. I do think if Weidman is given time and few more fights and if he keeps improving at the rate he is now then he could be a real threat by next year.

I'm not even going to bother to replying to kingsmasher post because he clearly is a borderline .

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Posted by kingsmasher

Weidman will own the division like Jon Jones in LHW...People who simply say hes not quite ready or this or that are just haters....Give some facts on how hes not ready...

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wow all of your posts are assumptions, incorrect, etc.

whats wrong with you do you really hate anderson that much that you are blinded to see his greatness....


btw just for the record Anderson SIlva has been more dom then Jon Jones, i think you meant to say weidman will dom like Anderson has.....


Weidman will be champ someday, but he has very little chance against Silva, everytime there is a fight with Silva all the Silva haters come around and say he isnt good he will lose blah blah blah blah blah.........and yet everytime he goes out there and makes his opponent look like a fool or beats them. I heard for two years Chael will be andee, andee has no chance blah blah........its time to stop hating and see whats in your face the greatest fighter of all time who makes everyone he faces look like they are no where near his level.



I have no issue with him getting time off, sure i would love to see him fight more but aging fighters and athletes take more time off then fight, there bodies dont heal as fast from even minor little tweaks. He deserves a little time away from the stress of fighting/training, while a suitable opponent is found. Besides he wouldnt have fought until late 2012 early 2013 anyway so its no shocker. You people disgust me.........


hater gon hate.....andee just gonna keep winning. fuel

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Posted by telnights

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Posted by BlueSkiesBurn
You could have said the same thing about Jon Jones or Brock Lesnar. That pendulum swings two ways. Jon Jones seemed to ragdoll everyone else despite limited experience. Hell, Weidman's first 5 fights were a lot tougher than Jones'.

Brock Lesnar's first 5 fights were tougher than Jones' as well, but you know what all three of these guys have in common? They all looked just so much better than their competition during those fights. Weidman has looked and shown more than Jon Jones or Brock Lesnar showed during their first five fights. He's won every single way possible and done it against better competition than Jones.

Just saying.

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Jones had 7 fights in the UFC before getting a shot and was only give one then because Evans was hurt. You add the fact that he was fighting Shogun for the belt and not what most consider to be the greatest fighter of all time. Also saying Weidman's fights have been tougher than Jones is very debatable.

Lesnar was fighting in a weight class that has very few top levels fighters to begin with. You also have to take in to account he is a huge draw and that time the UFC HW division was very thin.

Now let me say again I'm not saying Weidman isn't a solid up and comer, but I think some are very much blinded by the fact they don't like Silva and really want someone to beat him. I do think if Weidman is given time and few more fights and if he keeps improving at the rate he is now then he could be a real threat by next year.

I'm not even going to bother to replying to kingsmasher post because he clearly is a borderline .

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I know he had seven fights before getting a title. As a matter of fact, I kinda thought about this after lohmann's post. Silva taking time off could potentially give Weidman those two fights that put him over the top or we could see him so definitively beat a top contender, that he vaults ahead of everyone else.

I don't necessarily think Weidman is unprepared for Silva right now, but I don't know if he is prepared. Much like Jon Jones, we will need to see more. A couple more fights might satisfy those questions.

I would still argue that out of Jones' 1st 5 opponents, the only "real threat" to Jones was Hamill. I'd said Maia and Munoz are better than Hamill & Vera. Their first 3 fights cancel each other out in terms of basic positioning in the division.

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Posted by airkerma

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Posted by kingsmasher


I would bet against you one of us to leave the MMAPlayground forever on that fight....

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I know who I'm rooting for

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Someone please please take him up on that

I didn't think he was gonna fight anyways again this year
I bet he waits for that super fight vs gsp. Then after retired

Next year we will have a new middleweight champ

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Posted by kingsmasher

Weidman will own the division like Jon Jones in LHW...People who simply say hes not quite ready or this or that are just haters....Give some facts on how hes not ready...

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So just because some of us Thu.k he may not be ready means we're haters huh? Get real man, I WANT Silva vs Weidman but I'm still not sure he's ready. Weidman COULD win and I think he has a good shot but when you say Weidman will "dominate" and "Rule" the division and then he doesn't, it makes the guy that says that with such certainty look dumb. Let's just wait and see how it turns out, shall we

Weidman, with his level of wrestling and ground game COULD be a threat to Silva, he is a solid fighter and one of the best at mw in the UFC now. However, after reading certain posts, let me say he will in no way, shape or form dominate Silva, now, or after a another fight or two. I dont feel there is any fighter, in any weight class for that matter that could thouroughly dominate Silva. I think Anderson learned a lot about great wrestlers from the 2 Sonnen fights, and the next time he does fight, we will see much improved TDD. Now since Silva will not fight again till next year, we can see Weidman fight again, against Sonnen, Belfort, or a 185 Rashad. I see Silva defending his title sucsessfully once more, twice would be a stretch, before taking a fight with GSP or Jones, then retiring.......still the mw champ. And I see Weidman getting ktfo if he fights Silva.

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Posted by prophecy033

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Posted by kingsmasher

Weidman will own the division like Jon Jones in LHW...People who simply say hes not quite ready or this or that are just haters....Give some facts on how hes not ready...

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So just because some of us Thu.k he may not be ready means we're haters huh? Get real man, I WANT Silva vs Weidman but I'm still not sure he's ready. Weidman COULD win and I think he has a good shot but when you say Weidman will "dominate" and "Rule" the division and then he doesn't, it makes the guy that says that with such certainty look dumb. Let's just wait and see how it turns out, shall we

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I got Weidman R2 sub (guillotine or d'arce)

While I am not convinced that Weidman would be able to beat Anderson, I seriously feel as though Anderson is avoiding a fight with him, and this to me seems like a way to avoid said fight for at least a little while.

Holding out until the end of the year is going to force Weidman to fight somebody else before the end of the year, and either take him out of the picture with a loss, or give Anderson more footage to watch on him as I personally believe that one of Weidman's greatest assets at this point is that we've seen so little of him that we really don't know what all he is capable of. What he did to Munoz in the second round was something that we hadn't seen out of him before, and I think that is what makes him an intriguing match-up. That and his take downs remind me a lot of Edgar's take downs as they just come out of nowhere and leave you on your back; which is a place we all know Anderson doesn't like to be despite winning from it.

A third option by taking until the end of the year off for Anderson is that it allows another contender to rise up for him to take on, again avoiding Weidman. Like I said, I don't know if Weidman has the ability to beat Anderson, but I honestly believe that Anderson doesn't want this fight.

After his match up with Sonnen, Soares was saying that GSP and Franklin were interesting match ups, and completely discredited Weidman. To me this is crap, as we all know what will happen Silva-Franklin 3, and picking Georges over Jon Jones is obvious ducking. The welterweight division is a backed up mess, and the last thing it needs is this fight, where as the 205 is an empty cupboard that welcomes this superfight. Anderson has already fought twice at 205, looked great, but doesn't want to do it any more? C'mon.

I love watching Anderson Silva fight, the guy is the most talented striker MMA has every seen, I just wish he'd let the UFC make his fights for him, and stick to doing what he does best which is winning them.