Rumours circulating that GSP has revealed on a French chat show that he is not interested in fighting Anderson Silva, putting speculation and pre-planning by the UFC to rest. Developing.
That would suck if it doesn't happen but thinking about it realistically, the risk isn't worth it for GSP. He's already highly regarded as a fighter, probably as one of the best ever, Why put it on the line against someone with such a big size advantage.
So to paraphrase what GSP said, he has challenges left at 170 and will fight Anderson Silva when he wants to, not when he's pressured to or when Silva wants to, and at 170-lbs. So it's not a definitive "no" but it's close.
He does have guys left to beat at 170, but I'm sticking with my prediction that if this fight ever happens it will be when both are quite old and no matter who wins people will say "well (loser) was better in their prime". As for Anderson, I think there's plenty of interesting fights for him at 205 that could help cement his legacy.
I don't think there is much for GSP at 170, though. Diaz and Hendricks should get him deep into 2013 but he won't fight Rory MacDonald and beyond that it's only rematches. I think he'd have much more compelling work to do at 185 but maybe he feels he isn't up to it? Seems that way.
A few more details: GSP's current walk-around weight is 188-lbs. (Mike Goldberg would have you believe he is a LHW) and thinks Anderson Silva's walk-around is 234-lbs., which is astounding if true, but probably only true for when he's fighting at LHW and not when he's competing at middleweight, since the cut would be an outrageous 50-lbs. or so. I doubt that Silva is more than 210-lbs. typically when in middleweight mode before he starts camp. Says that whether Dana and Anderson want the fight is irrelevant. When he wants the fight, it will happen. No mention here of pretty much every MMA fan wanting the fight, too. If he were to fight Silva it would be at welterweight unless he was finished with that division in which case he'd make the permanent move up. Something he's said before. He will never move up--something I've said before. Nobody moves up when they've been champion outside of Penn & Couture, and even then only when they're cherry picking.
GSP has two challenges at 170--Hendricks and Diaz, maybe a Condit rematch? There isn't much for Anderson left at 185, outside of Weidman and Bisping (not really a challenge, but two marketable fighters). These two will not fight.
I am rooting for Jon Jones vs Silva, I think that fight is more likely to happen than GSP/Silva since Silva has actually fought at 205 before.
At this point I get the sense that GSP doesn't want to move up to fight Silva and Silva doesn't want to move up to fight JJ. Those fights would be a major factor in how they're considered historically, and neither wants to risk the legacy they've built up, even if a win is almost a lock to ensure GOAT status (until JJ takes that). BTW didn't GSP's manager or coach say hes more likely to drop to 155 than move to 185 late in his career not too long ago?
