UFC 139: Wanderlei Silva and 5 UFC Fighters Who Never Get an Easy Fight

The UFC is the toughest organization in the world, and it's been said numerous times there is no such thing as an easy fight.

But some opponents are more difficult to face than others, and it seems certain fighters have ended up on Joe Silva’s bad side, as every fight they get is against a legitimate, top opponent.

Some of these fighters have thrived and gone on some incredible win streaks, while others have floundered and are barely holding on to their jobs at the moment. Is it really their fault, or have they just gotten one too many bad matchups?

Hit me up in the comments section with your opinions.

Yoshihiro Akiyama

UFC Opponents: Belcher, Leben, Bisping, Belfort.

Next Fight: Jake Shields at UFC 144

It’s hard to even see how Joe Silva has even chosen Yoshihiro Akiyama’s opponents at this point.

After his win against Alan Belcher, it seems like every opponent has gotten progressively harder even though he is losing fights, and it has made his UFC career deemed a failure in the eyes of many fans.

If Sexyama can’t get in the win column against Shields in his native country of Japan in early 2012, he might be out of a job soon, which is a shame for a fighter with his level of talent.

Carlos Condit

UFC Opponents: Kampmann, Ellenberger, MacDonald, Hardy, Kim.

Next Fight: Josh Koscheck at UFC 143

The welterweight division is one of the deepest in the sport, but no fighter has been thrown to the wolves quite like Carlos Condit.

Condit lost a close decision to Martin Kampmann in his UFC debut, but he has come roaring back with wins over top prospects Ellenberger and MacDonald, and then ran through contenders Dan Hardy and Dong Hyun Kim in his next two fights.

After a title fight against Georges St-Pierre was shelved in favor of Nick Diaz getting a shot at the champ, Condit was quick to request another fight, and it won’t get any easier against Koscheck on Super Bowl weekend.

Forrest Griffin

UFC Opponents: Bonnar (2), Mahood, Sinosic, Ortiz (2), Jardine, Ramirez, Rua (2), Jackson, Evans, Silva, Franklin

Next Fight: TBA

When you look at the murderers row of opponents Forrest Griffin has fought over the last five years, it seems insane that he has survived this long in one of MMA’s toughest divisions.

Wins over Shogun Rua and Rampage Jackson led to Forrest winning the UFC light heavyweight title back in 2008, but since he won the belt he has fallen on hard times.

Griffin has gone 2-3 since December of 2008, with knockout losses to Rashad Evans, Anderson Silva and Shogun Rua. If he doesn’t get a win in his next fight, he may be closer to retirement than fans would like.

Kenny Florian

UFC Opponents: Sanchez, Karalexis, Cope, Stout, Sherk, Mishima, Robinson, Thomas, Lauzon, Huerta, Stevenson, Penn, Guida, Gomi, Maynard, Nunes, Aldo.

Next Fight: TBA

When you see the sheer number of fights Florian has had inside the Octagon, it becomes extremely impressive that he has been considered a top fighter for so long.

Ken-Flo has fought some of the best in the world at both lightweight and featherweight, and has defeated an incredible number of top guys, but his struggles in title fights have hurt his chances of becoming a legend.

After Florian’s failed title shot against Jose Aldo at UFC 136, there was a serious question as to whether Kenny would decide to walk away, but he has since decided to jump back into the fray in the 155-pound division.

If he loses again, it may just be better to retire, since he will likely never get another shot at a UFC title and that should be the goal for any fighter anyway.

Wanderlei Silva

UFC Opponents: Liddell, Jardine, Jackson, Franklin, Bisping, Leben.

Next Fight: Cung Le at UFC 139

If Wanderlei Silva is unable to win this weekend, it may be time for the PRIDE legend to hang up his gloves.

Silva has gone an abysmal 2-4 since entering the Octagon in 2007, and has often been injured during that time.

His knockout losses to Rampage Jackson and Chris Leben have shown his once granite chin has turned to glass and fighter safety has to be called into question if he gets knocked out again.

If Silva gets finished by Cung Le this weekend, it will likely be the end of the line for “The Axe Murderer” and it will probably be for the best.