With recent supernaturally-impressive wins over former champion Rich Franklin and Pride's Middleweight champion Dan Henderson, Anderson "The Spider" Silva is virtually causing the Middleweight division to lose it's credibility of actually giving Silva a run for the title.
After Patrick Cote's destruction of Ultimate Fighter winner Kendell Grove, Mike "Quick" Swick's recent drop to Welterweight, and Evan Tanner's unpredictable and unforeseen knee to the face, our possible top contender has been reduced to Yushin Okami—who holds a blemish on his record from former champ Rich Franklin—who was decimated by The Spider twice so far.
Although Okami does hold a freak win over Silva (by disqualification due to an illegal up-kick) I highly doubt Okami has what it takes to overcome Silva's jujitsu and striking skills. Although Okami has been said to be as strong as an ox in heat, Silva still managed to get the back of an Olympic Greco-Roman Wrestler and choke him out, so I'd have to give Silva's constantly-improving technique over Okami's strength for sure.
So who does that leave us? How about Middleweight newcomer and Ultimate Fighter winner Michael Bisping? I say after Silva wipes the floor with Okami, Silva vs Bisping should be next in order.
Is there a trend visible in the UFC now? After BJ Penn proves that he is an unstoppable force in the Lightweight division with a future win over recently alleged steroid user Sean Sherk, I believe BJ Penn can hold that belt until he begins to develop a waist rash and gives it up.
Although the Lightweight division is by far more in-depth with credible contenders in Roger Huerta, Frank Edgar, Kenny Florian, and Thiago Tavares to name a few, I still see BJ Penn as far superior a fighter than the rest of the Lightweight division.
Maybe after Silva has decided he's gotten tired of the Middleweight division, he'll move up and fight more tougher game within the Light Heavyweight division. With an undoubtedly amazing first round submission win in the first round over Matt Hughes and a razor thin split decision lost from George St. Pierre in which I still believe BJ Penn was the victor, it has been proven that fighters can hold their own with the best from the heavier divisions.
Like BJ Penn, I believe we'll soon witness Silva prove this as well.
Comments (14) Add a comment »
from 2 months ago
BJ penn beat Sherk? No
from 2 months ago
Have you seen pictures of Sherk a few years ago, he looks like an average fighter. Then pretty recently he suddenly becomes vainey and bloated out like the hulk and starts beating everyone. I wonder if he comes down from the steroids if you will still say "Penn beat Sherk? No
from 2 months ago
What is the big deal with having a dominant champion?
To have a champion who is head and shoulders above the rest is not derogatory to the division it gives them something to aspire to. Doesn't do boxing any harm, although boxing promoters probably wouldnt take the risk with their 'commodity'.
Andy.
from 2 months ago
What about Tank Aboott can he make a comeback?
from 2 months ago
I thought I saw Richard Simmons at UFC last week. Is that true? Would love to see him on those tighties-Chuck
from 2 months ago
Penn owns Sherk, he's far more superior, and he finishes his fights. Sherk will wrestle slam and wrestle some more.. What will happen if he finds he cannot out wrestle BJ, and because he cannot finish he is in constant threat of a submission, assuming it goes to the ground. If it stays upright, I can see sherk eating lots of fist burgers and waking up the next day. Yah he's strong, he's a beast.. But when matched up with a more technically superior athlete (hughes, GSP) he can be beat. Based on his history, he has trouble with people he cannot outwrestle. I think he will either be knocked out, or submitted.
from 2 months ago
What about Tank Aboott can he make a comeback?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^6
waht the hell is he on. Say no to crack
i think silva should move up to light heavy i wud love to c him take on rampage/ chuck/shogun and mayb wanderleigh that wud be tight
from 2 months ago
Michael Bisping? he wouldnt have a chance...
from 2 months ago
seems like people always want to see a champion. after that they want him to lose . . .
from 2 months ago
Chuck Liddell is the most overrated fighter in the UFC, he hasn't ever really fought anyone in the UFC and its a good thing Shogun got hurt, cuz he would have raped Liddell. I see Rashad winning in Round 2.
from about 1 month ago
HAHA chuck has fough everyone they have thrown at him mr anonymous, excuse me but why dont you wiki chuck liddell and respond with a list of every fight hes had
just a few names out there Randy,tito, rampage, vitor belfort, kevin randlman,vernon white, jardine and im sure people will add on to the many i forgot
from about 1 month ago
Chuck has the biggest winning streak in MMA history doesn't he?
Or UFC history at least... something like that anyways, I'm too lazy to look it up.
And speaking of Shogun, he got his ass kicked by Forrest Gump, so maybe he's all hype, or like some people claim, useless without his steroids.
from about 1 month ago
IF Anderson Silva does decide to move up to lightheavyweight he will be defeated, mark my words, the middleweight division is weak and Silva proved that by running through anybody they put in front of him , most recently Dan Henderson, Silva moved up a big notch in my book when he defeated Dan Henderson who i considered a top 5 in LHW and MW, other than that he ran through Franklin - twice (franklin to me was never that impressive and silva properly exposed his weaknesses, Silva is just a bad matchup for Franklin), Lutter - (interesting fight, a weakened and frail Lutter managed to get Silva on the gournd but did not have enough gas in the tank to do anything with him, he was tapped out by triangle, Marquardt - ( nate was just overwhelmed and basically just crumbled), and last but not least the crippler chris leben - (silva had fun picking his sloppy stand up apart and knocking him out) - if silva does decide to move up he will be met by better fighters with more potential to bring him back to reality - here is a short list of fighters i beleive can defeat silva in LHW - Rampage, Liddell, a healthy and ready shogun, and wandy - let silva fight okami at middleweight so he can avenge his loss to okami by dq in an earlier fight theyve had then lets see silva move up and see where his skill level is really at
from about 1 month ago
Munu139 - i think ur exactly right.
Write a new comment