Georges St. Pierre vs. Anderson Silva: Why MMA Fans Want to See Super-Fights

Shortly after Jon Jones defeated Shogun Rua for the UFC Light Heavyweight title, Dana White said, "About 75 people" have already suggested an Anderson Silva – Jon Jones super-fight. UFC President, Lorenzo Fertitta asked via Twitter, "Bones vs Silva? Who wants it?" Who wants to see Bones – Silva, or the other rumored super-fight, Georges St. Pierre – Silva? The answer is millions and millions of people. 

But why are fans so engrossed with the idea of these super-fights?  Sure, we want to see the best fight the best.  Sure, we want to see killer fights, but the other reason is, we want to see one of these "unbeatable" fighters Lose.  For a lot of fans we want to see more than just them losing.  We want to see them knocked out! We want to witness the end of Anderson Silva's Invincible Era.  Silva's won 13 straight fights in the UFC. Are you kidding me? Who can beat this guy? I want to know! Not only do I want to know, I want to have a front row seat when it happens.

Silva, St. Pierre and Jones are all on the top of their respective divisions. Silva and St. Pierre even more so than Jones. Silva has successfully defended the UFC Middleweight title nine times. St. Pierre has successfully defended the UFC Welterweight title five times.  With all due respect to St. Pierre's next opponent, Jake Shields, both fighters have basically cleared out their respective divisions. After all that, fans are left wondering who can challenge these guys except each other.

Before Cain Velasquez defeated Brock Lesnar for the UFC Heavyweight title, Lesnar was left many people wondering who could beat him. He's a huge, intimidating, monster of a man who steamrolled through his opponents with his size, power and speed. When he faced "someone his own size" in Shane Carwin, Lesnar survived a first round onslaught from Carwin before sinking in a choke in the second round that left people shaking their heads.

Nevertheless, the Carwin fight gave fans something they've never seen before.  Lesnar on his back getting pounded. That's what fans want to see. They want to see these invincible, unbeatable fighters look vulnerable and beatable.  Give me some proof that these guys are human.

Just look at the Chael Sonnen – Anderson Silva fight last year. No one has ever seen Silva in that situation. On the verge of losing the UFC Middleweight title and his first fight since early 2006 (which was by DQ).  During the fight, people were awe-struck and amazed not so much by the performance from Sonnen (even though it was a superb performance) but, by the fact that they were witnessing the end of Anderson Silva's status as an invincible, unbeatable fighter.  Then Silva caught Sonnen in a triangle choke, and again left fans wondering who could beat this guy.  The same thoughts go through our heads after a Georges St. Pierre or Jon Jones fight.  The only way to guarantee one of them will lose is to have them fight each other, and that's what we want to see.

Remember UCLA Basketball teams in the early '70s?  They won 88 consecutive games.  That streak is legendary.  It's still talked about today.  You know what else is talked about today?  The game that ended the streak.  January 28, 1974 vs. Notre Dame.  It's one of the most, if not the most talked about games in college basketball history.  Why?  Because Notre Dame did what people became accustomed to believing couldn't be done.  They beat the mighty UCLA Bruins, and ended their 88-game win streak.  People that watched the game, and the lucky ones who were there, will describe the game in vivid detail.

That's what MMA fans want to see. UCLA was brought back down to earth. They were beatable. If Anderson Silva were to step in to the cage against Georges St. Pierre or Jon Jones, one of them is getting beat. (God help us if it ended in a draw!) Imagine Georges St. Pierre, the current Welterweight champion, moving up to Middleweight, to challenge Anderson Silva for the Middleweight title.

The anticipation as they walk to the cage, knowing that one of these "unbeatable" fighters is going down tonight!  The electricity as they face-off.  Imagine St. Pierre coming out with a hard fought decision victory or Silva with a devastating knockout.  It's going to be remember and talked about by MMA fans forever.  People will look at the loser of the fight and say, "this guy can be beaten."  People will look at the winner, still saying, "who can beat this guy?"

On to the next super-fight.

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