Apr 21 2009
UFC 97: Confusion
UFC 97: Redemption should have been called UFC: Confusion after Saturday nights show was a complete disaster with the Main Event looking like a joke. As mentioned in yesterdays Sports Market, UFC 97 was also headlined by knockout loss of the very popular Chuck Liddell.
Although Liddells loss and seemingly impending retirement greatly hurts the organization, the actions of UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva aren’t making things any easier for the UFC. Silva’s last two performances are confusing to say the least.
Many people are crediting these two bad performances to the fans being spoiled by Silva’s previous fights ending in spectacular knockout fashion. What I am not buying is the competition the UFC is continuing to put infront of Anderson Silva.
There are plenty of competitors in and around the 185 pound division, names like Dan Henderson (who actualy won a round against Silva), Yushin Okami, Demian Maia, and Michael Bisping who can do something that no one has ever did to Anderson Silva, bring the fight to him.
My focus is, however, on two fighters in this division and that is Henderson and another Silva, Wanderlei Silva that is. Henderson, as I mentioned before, has a rock solid chin and has actually stepped in and brought the fight to Anderson Silva and won a round.
Henderson was not destroyed by Silva, and should have earned a rematch with Anderson Silva before Thales Leites or anyone else for that matter. My wild-card is Wanderlei Silva, a fighter who will begin to compete at the 185 lbs division after his fight with Rich Franklin at a 195 lbs catch-weight.
Wanderlei Silva is the closest fighter that resembles a Chuck Liddell type of fighter, someone who is going to bring the fight to you. After sub-par performances by Anderson Silva, maybe he needs someone that’s going to push him around and force him to fight, unlike Leites.
That is my theory, you do not have to move Anderson Silva up in weight or move Georges St-Pierre up to face-off with Silva, just make good with what you have. Continue to develop fighters at 185 lbs, and also wait for Yoshihiro Akiyama to get used to life in the UFC because he can bring a fight to Anderson Silva too.
J.M.Saucedo
