Anderson Silva: I don't see anyone in Brazil that can beat Jon Jones

You mean when he kept talking about wanting to move up to middleweight, starting openly putting on additional muscle, had Dana announce that his next fight after Shields would be Silva but when Silva looked awesome against Belfort and GSP struggled against Sonnen in training decided against moving up?

 

Or Russia or Japan or Timbuktoo

 

As I said - champions have not frequently moved weight classes with their belts in the UFC. Of the examples you've actually only got three fights of UFC Champions moving weight - BJ Penn vs GSP II and then Silva's two lightweight fights. And its not like there's any more examples in the fifteen year history of the organisation. Moves like Couture in 2003 will still happen - he was a fighter who if he stayed at heavyweight he'd no longer be in title contention, so he moved down in weight to stay relevant. I mean we've just seen BJ try to pull the same trick with a move to welterweight.

 

No he was bulking up to move up. His camp brought Sonnen in to train with him last year to see how he'd do at middleweight. Sonnen tooled him because GSP can't match his strength or reach. GSP realised it was a bad idea and dropped it.

But I agree most suggested weight moves are panic responses to a temporary lack of challengers. Both GSP and Silva have ridden dry spells and the marketable challengers have re-emerged. Although I don't think Henderson is a serious contender for a middleweight title shot - he couldn't have been clearer that he doesn't see his future there in the long term

 

There may not be many superstars in the sport's history but there's been plenty of guys who have established themselves as 'the guy' but since the institution of weight classes moves in weights have been for a specific reason rather than a desire to make P4P dream matches.

When Penn fought Hughes there was actually no lightweight division for him to compete in after his and Uno's drawn fight the year before. Couture lost two title fights in a row at heavyweight, he moved down for light heavyweight (also Ortiz was surely the face of 205Ibs at that point). He retired after losing two title fights and was brought back to heavyweight because there was no-one to face Tim Sylvia. Anderson Silva was doing terrible on pay per view and so not making that much money, so the UFC fed two light heavyweights to increase his profile.

What you didn't have was say Chuck Liddell or Tito Ortiz moving up to heavyweight while holding the belt. Hell Matt Hughes and Rich Franklin didn't even fight each others in a champion vs champion match when they coached opposite each other.

 

Problem is that Henderson won't stay at middleweight so you're risking damaging your title for a fight that probably won't draw that much above Anderson's normal range. After all Henderson may be a great fighter but he's never been a tremendous drawing card. Beside Jones needs him as a challenger more than Silva.

 

I don't think anyone is calling for Hendo-Silva anyhow. The first fight was good but not enough to say has a great chance. The biggest fight by far is Sonnen-Silva and even munoz and Bisping are there.

Not to mention, Hendo is in line at 205 and if Hendo moves down that would almost clean out the LHW division for the near future.

 

Still doesn't make sense to me because 185 is not deep and Anderson has little or no competition. Hell, Dana once said he'd MAKE Silva fight Machida (when Lyoto was the man 205) if the fans clamor for it. That's the old Dana I admire. Silva is at the tail end of his career anyway so Dana is going to lose his star soon. I can understand if we're dealing with a young star like Aldo but Anderson doesn't have many fights left. Why not cash out especially when Silva-Jones is one of the biggest fights that can be made?

I can't complain too much about Dana's matchmaking since he's done an amazing job overall. But he is starting to show signs of Bob Arum-like schemes by protecting his star fighter(s).

 

Like it or not that is exactly where things are at :deal

 

The only people who count to Anderson are from Brazil, all others are not worthy.