Wanderlei Silva discusses UFC Future

Discussion in 'MMA - Mixed Martial Arts' started by Celtic Fan, Feb 19, 2008.

  1. Celtic Fan

    Celtic Fan Well-Known Member

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    gotta admit I read the title of the article and thought he was having some 'DREAM's about leaving the UFC.
    source mmaweekly
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>WANDERLEI SILVA MULLS HIS UFC FUTURE

    The rumors about Wanderlei Silva’s next Ultimate Fighting Championship bout have been gaining momentum lately and the Brazilian’s latest blog entry on his official website will only fan the flames.

    After taking some time to travel with his family to Brazil, Silva has returned to the U.S. and is starting to talk about his next fight and surprisingly, a possible move down in weight classes to the middleweight division.

    "I just got home to Vegas and I am going to the UFC office to know about my next fight,” said Silva.

    “I’m thinking about my next opponent who’s probably going to be (Keith) Jardine. I found him a good choice after his victory over Chuck Liddell.” He also said, “I think that would be a very good opponent because our styles match very good.”

    ough he added, “…there’s nothing official yet.”

    Jardine has been the name most often mentioned for Silva’s likely return in May at UFC 84 in Las Vegas. His blog entry seems to confirm that is the bout being discussed not only by fans, but also by the UFC officials.

    Despite the prospect of Keith Jardine on the horizon, Silva has another fighter on his mind, Dan Henderson. Along with a Henderson rematch, he mentioned a possible drop in weight classes as well.

    “On the other hand, we have Anderson Silva vs. Dan Henderson, which will a very good fight. If Henderson wins that fight, I wouldn't think twice to drop down my weight to face him again,” stated Silva. “I respect him a lot, but I have him inside my throat since our last fight because I wasn't in my best day on that occasion.”

    The two faced each other at Pride Fighting Championships final event in America in February of 2007. Henderson knocked out Silva two minutes into the third round.

    “I am thinking seriously (about changing) my weight class in the UFC because I am too short and the athletes in my weight class are 1.90 meters (6’3”) tall. At the moment, I am 1.80 meters (5’11”),” he stated.

    “I’ve being waiting, but I haven’t grown any taller. I think my size will be this one!”

    Silva would be one of the larger fighters at middleweight and there are plenty of opponents that would provide prominent match-ups. The obvious marquee bouts would be against fellow Brazilian and current champion Anderson Silva or the rematch with Henderson. But en route to either of those fights, there are other potential fights with Nate Marquardt, Rich Franklin, Yushin Okami, or the returning Evan Tanner.

    So it sounds as if there may be a future for the “Axe Murderer” in the lighter weight class, but considering his tone about the possibility of a bout with Jardine, it appears that any move will likely wait until sometime after May.</div>

    I think a more accurate translation would be 'in the UFC guys drop 10-20 lbs and on fight night outweigh me by as much as 15 lbs and I'm gonna get tossed around at 205'
    Bisping recently dropped to 185, it would be very interesting to see Wand at 185 vs Silva, Henderson, Marquart etc...
    I think though it will depend on how he fares vs Jardine.
     
  2. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    It was really surprising to me to see how much smaller Wandy was compared to Chuck.

    I don't know about him dropping, though. He would be a force at 185 but guys experienced as he is normally don't cut so hard.
     
  3. Celtic Fan

    Celtic Fan Well-Known Member

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    true, but considering he may be walking around at 204-208 a little training and he'd be walking around at 195ish and would only have to drop 10 lbs 2 weeks out.
     
  4. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Celtic Fan @ Feb 19 2008, 10:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>true, but considering he may be walking around at 204-208 a little training and he'd be walking around at 195ish and would only have to drop 10 lbs 2 weeks out.</div>

    If he walks around at 208 then it is no wonder he gave up so much size to Liddell, who supposedly fights at at least 225.
     
  5. Celtic Fan

    Celtic Fan Well-Known Member

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    I'm not sure that's what he walks at, but most of the Pride fighters did not cut weight as I believe it's more of a North American thing to do so I'm surmising he must walk around at that weight.
     

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