Anderson Silva UFC 117 – photo via Heavy MMA @ heavy.com
Following an interview between UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva and Brazilian news site Sportv.Globo.com, UFC president Dana White was certainly counting the dollar signs running through his head.
In that interview with Silva, ‘The Spider’ stated that he would be willing to fight UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones in a catchweight bout.
Here is a rough translation (utilizing Google Translate and MiddleEasy.com’s translation) of what Silva had to say when asked about a “Super Fight” between him and Jones.
People are talking about it….I don’t have such intentions, there isn’t any motive to do so, mostly because there are several people from my team who belong in his weight class (Antonio Rogerio ‘Minotouro’ Nogueira), (Fabio) Maldonado, (Rafael ‘Feijao’ Cavalcante’, (Wagner ‘Caldeirao’ Prado). My weight is 84kg, this is my title. But people talk so much, and some of those are UFC’s employees. Of course, I do not want to be talking, but if he accepts the money Dana offers him? It’ll be difficult. It isn’t the money that makes me do what I do, I fight because I like it. I don’t know…I would not. But if it happens, it would have to be in catch weight. His belt wouldn’t be on the line. I alredy have my title, I don’t want to leave a title dropped.
White has been wanting to book a fight between two of his champions for some time now, and Silva’s statement certainly has the UFC president thinking about the revenue a fight like this would generate.
This would truly be a “Super Fight” as neither title would be on the line. From Silva’s comment about not being interested in the 205-lbs strap due to teammates competing in the light heavyweight division, the champs statement reads as if he’s more than confident in his abilities to defeat Jones.
Silva fought at light heavyweight this past weekend in the main event of UFC 153, finishing opponent Stephan Bonnar via first round TKO.
Jones was just announced as one of the coaches for “The Ultimate Fighter” season 17 opposite Chael Sonnen. ‘Bones’ beat Vitor Belfort last month at UFC 152 in Toronto to defend his belt for a rourth straight time.