How would a rematch have gone say 2 years after the first fight? Silva improved his TDD significantly after the loss to Tito as he showed against Hendo. Could he hit early enough to make Tito cautious about shooting? Could he stuff the attempts that followed? Silva is a bit underrated on the ground for me but once Tito is on top the only hope is he tires because he's so good from that position so Silva would have to avoid the takedowns if he has any chance. Or would it go the same way as the first with Tito taking Silva down and dominating from position?
Silva really came into his own over the next year in Pride. That and the octagon and the SEG/zuffa rules largely benefit wrestlers. If they had a rematch a couple year later in a Pride ring under pride ruleset I think he knocks Tito out.
He really seemed to up his game after losing to Belfort and Ortiz. His striking defence and takedown defence came in massively after that. That being said, as far as LHW fighters go, Ortiz is probably the strongest in history. If he lands a takedown you're not going to do much for the rest of the round. Silva is not going to get a submission from his back and most BJJ trained fighters struggle sweeping wrestlers who train better at position holding. Seems to me his chance is to land strikes and stuff takedown attempts like he did against Hendo. Over 5 rounds he isn't going to stuff every attempt so unless he's laid some pain on first he's going to lose rounds by default. That being said Lidell could do exactly that, stuff and strike so if he can pull it off then Wanderlei must have a decent chance.
