Who is next for Anderson Silva? (Note: Silva rejected the notion of fighting Filho, his training partner)
I can't see how Anderson can cut 15 pounds from that frame. Okami will get his chance, as I'm sure it was part of the contractual negotiations in bringing him back. They may feed him Chonan using the same "Avenge his losses" line they did when chuck had cleaned out LHW. Unless they can convince him to fight Filho he'll have to move up to 205. Anderson seemed pretty adamant that he wouldn't fight him. Which was out of character. I know there is some bad blood with Shogun/Wanderlei. Imagine that war?
Okami makes the most sense, especially with the DQ loss and Okami's win streak. Not sure if Arona can make 185, he always seemed to be a big 205, of course if he was in th UFC he would have to take a pee test, I do wonder if he'd look smaller.
I'm pretty sure Henderson would beat him if he got another chance. Silva is not that good after all, you saw that on the ground he can be beat. I think Hendo being scared had more to do than him really losing the fight.
I think it was that Knee he ate more than Hendo being scared... Hendo doesn't strike me as being scared of fighting anyone.
ok lol, not scared but he was holding back. (or looked like it) He fought very differently versus Rampage Jackson. (and rampage is way stronger than silva)
everyone who's fought Silva has mentioned his strength, including Rich Franklin who is a huge 185er. I'd bet Silva also has better strikes than Rampage too. Rampage may punch better with raw power (or maybe not) but Silva's technique would catch Hendo like he's seldomly been caught before.
It looks like Okami is the next middleweight in line to fight him, seeing as how Lindland and Shamrock aren't going to be part of the UFC ever again (presumably). Has everyone seen the Silva/Okami fight (I think it was in Cage Rage)? It wasn't a wipe-out like Silva's been doing lately. Silva was disqualified for knocking out Okami with an illegal up-kick from guard (something we saw at the PPV on Saturday but it wasn't deemed illegal, for some reason). Considering how Franklin fared against Okami, I think Silva would smoke him. The talk about Silva taking on a boxing champion is foolish, IMHO. I hope he's not thinking about it seriously. A guy like Roy Jones Jr. or Joe Calzaghe would wreck Silva in a straight boxing match.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing @ Mar 3 2008, 09:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm pretty sure Henderson would beat him if he got another chance. Silva is not that good after all, you saw that on the ground he can be beat. I think Hendo being scared had more to do than him really losing the fight.</div> What did you see on the ground that I didn't? Hendo was able to get into one of the most dominating positions in MMA; side control. He is considered one of the best and strongest wrestlers in the game. All he landed were a couple hammer fists. He did more damage to rampage. Silva was so strong and flexible in that position that he was able to minimize what Hendo could do. Dan Henderson would be able to finish 98% of the fighters in the UFC he he got side control. He didn't even bruise Silva. He did however win that round. Despite getting beat in the stand up. Henderson may have won this fight if he had continued to take it to the ground and lay&pray, as well as use the greco roman clinch for 3-4 rounds. Only then could he possibly stand and trade with silva, once silva was tired and desperate. Instead he decided to try and trade with Silva. Towards the beginning of the end he even tried to put Silva in the Thai clinch. Silva won this fight because he knocked the piss out of Dan and put him on the ground. He got on top of him, beat him silly and took advantage. He didn't fight scared he fought stupid.
In the fight against Lutter, Silva was supposedly injured, which led to him getting taken down without much trouble. But now, after seeing Henderson take him down, it looks like Silva's TD defense isn't on the same level as a guy like Chuck Liddell or GSP. Did Franklin take him down against the cage in their second match? I can't remember. Against Lutter, Silva gave up full mount, and against Hendo, side control. It seems to be his flaw thus far, but whether or not there is anyone capable of exploiting it is another question.
For you experienced MMA fans, why doesn't Dana White want Hendo fighting at light heavy? I'm still dying to see a Chuck/Hendo fight, but I doubt it happens.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Black Mamba @ Mar 3 2008, 04:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>For you experienced MMA fans, why doesn't Dana White want Hendo fighting at light heavy? I'm still dying to see a Chuck/Hendo fight, but I doubt it happens.</div> Light heavyweight is the deepest UFC division and middleweight is arguably the shallowest. Plus Dan was giving up 20lbs to Rampage, and would to Liddell or Ortiz and most of the light heavyweights.
Who is there for Hendo to fight at 185? Again, I don't know much, but from what I've seen of Silva...he's untouchable. What are some possible matchups for Henderson?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Black Mamba @ Mar 3 2008, 06:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Who is there for Hendo to fight at 185? Again, I don't know much, but from what I've seen of Silva...he's untouchable. What are some possible matchups for Henderson?</div> Hendo/Franklin would be main-event quality; that one comes to mind first. A fight against Marquardt would also be entertaining.
I'd like to see him fight my favorite fighter of all. BJ PENN. BJ has fought everyone from 205 all the way down to 155 I believe. I need to double check the stats on that. BJ would make for a very interesting matchup. First off however, its time to deck Sherk, then GSP, then go with SILVA. Thats how great I believe a MOTIVATED Penn is.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Trench @ Mar 4 2008, 03:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'd like to see him fight my favorite fighter of all. BJ PENN. BJ has fought everyone from 205 all the way down to 155 I believe. I need to double check the stats on that. BJ would make for a very interesting matchup. First off however, its time to deck Sherk, then GSP, then go with SILVA. Thats how great I believe a MOTIVATED Penn is.</div> Sherk is gonna be a tough matchup but I think BJ can win. Sherk can muscle out of most submissions and I think BJ's Striking is crisper, Sherk is a good boxer and a great wreslter. If he gets on top of BJ, it's lay and grind time for Sherk. I'm thinking this may be a very close fight. I don't see him beating GSP though, he's too strong for BJ and I'd say he's the best wrestler in the UFC. He's dominanted Hughes, Sherk, Trigg and Koscheck who are all great collegiate wrestlers. Rashard Evans can't take him down in practice at Jackson's camp too and he's a LHW. GSP's only weakness is his mental toughness IMO and if you piss him off like Hughes, well he remains focused. BJ will say something dumb and GSP will be focused. Not sure what BJ could do vs Heno either, he can't KO him, no one ever has and it's questionable if he coudl take him down too. BJ fought at 205 but lost to machida.
Also we have yet to see Bisping at 185, he'd make a big 185er and may be in the mix, and Wand is at least thinking of trying for 185. Training at Xtreme Couture he's got to be learning how to cut weight and could do well at 185 too. Wand vs Hendo rematch this time in the UFC would sell too after a couple of wins by both guys.
