Author: Andrew Saunders

Anderson Silva’s Next Fight: If Not Weidman, Then Who?

At UFC 162, Chris Weidman stunned the MMA world with a single left hand. That is all it took to send the elusive Anderson Silva plummeting to the canvas like a sack of potatoes and capture the UFC middleweight championship.Immediately following the mat…

At UFC 162, Chris Weidman stunned the MMA world with a single left hand. That is all it took to send the elusive Anderson Silva plummeting to the canvas like a sack of potatoes and capture the UFC middleweight championship.

Immediately following the matchup, Anderson met with Joe Rogan inside the Octagon. That is where the former champion made a shocking announcement: Despite not being ready to retire from the sport, Anderson Silva is not interested in a rematch.

Silva isn’t ready to stop competing but isn’t looking to meet Weidman in his return bout. That raises an important question: If not Weidman, then who?

In this article, we will take a look at four of the best and most entertaining possibilities for Silva’s opponent when he returns to the cage.

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Silva vs. Weidman Results: What Weidman’s Win Means to the UFC

Unless you live under a rock, you have by now heard the story of how Anderson Silva danced his way out of the UFC middleweight championship at UFC 162. The always-elusive striker used his Matrix-inspired evasion a bit too often, and Weidman made him pa…

Unless you live under a rock, you have by now heard the story of how Anderson Silva danced his way out of the UFC middleweight championship at UFC 162. The always-elusive striker used his Matrix-inspired evasion a bit too often, and Weidman made him pay for it with a nasty left hand. 

Oddsmakers suggested that Weidman stood a better chance of dethroning the champion than some of his recent foes. However, that doesn’t make his knockout victory any less shocking to the viewing audience.

This victory has many repercussions for the Ultimate Fighting Championship as a whole. Here is a look at what Weidman‘s win means to the UFC.

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Bold MMA Predictions for the Month of July

Every month, Bleacher Report MMA takes a hard look at what fights lie ahead of us on the calendar. On Saturday night, the UFC gives us its first of two important offerings for the month with UFC 162. In non-Zuffa action, fans will be able to see the st…

Every month, Bleacher Report MMA takes a hard look at what fights lie ahead of us on the calendar. On Saturday night, the UFC gives us its first of two important offerings for the month with UFC 162. In non-Zuffa action, fans will be able to see the stars of Bellator and Invicta competing.

While many of the top-billed fights are fairly predictable, a few matchups coming our way are primed to shock oddsmakers and fans alike.

Here is a look at five bold MMA predictions for the month of July.

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UFC 162: Are Fans Starting to Doubt Weidman’s Ability to Defeat Silva?

On Saturday, July 6, undefeated prospect Chris Weidman will enter the cage as a title challenger against longtime middleweight champion Anderson Silva. It is a hotly anticipated affair that offers much intrigue and is nearly a year in the making.With a…

On Saturday, July 6, undefeated prospect Chris Weidman will enter the cage as a title challenger against longtime middleweight champion Anderson Silva. It is a hotly anticipated affair that offers much intrigue and is nearly a year in the making.

With a 5-0 record inside the Octagon, including wins over Demian Maia and Mark Munoz, Weidman was tapped by many as the man with the best chance of crushing The Spider. However, as the event draws nearer, the chatter from fans seems to suggest that our readers are having second thoughts on the matter.

The doubt that fans have regarding Weidman‘s ability to pull off such a monumental win comes down to three things: ring rust, Matt Serra’s absence and the historical dominance of Anderson Silva.

Ring Rust

One of the most common struggles of a fighter returning from a lengthy cage absence is getting reacclimated to doing battle inside the Octagon. Time and time again fans have witnessed a can’t-miss fighter return to the cage looking like a flat-footed shell of their former selves.

On July 6, Chris Weidman will return to the cage for the first time in 360 days. His time away from the Octagon stems from a shoulder injury that required surgery. 

Ask yourself a question: Is there any fighter capable of showing up in less than pique form and defeating Anderson Silva? I think not.

Lack of Serra

Earlier this week, it was announced (via MMAfighting.com) that longtime Weidman coach, mentor and trainer Matt Serra will be unable to corner his prize student at UFC 162. While that news may not seem terribly important to some, those that recognize the vital role that a cornerman plays know that it can make all the difference in the world.

The cornerman is an additional pair of eyes who can look for openings and shout them to you from afar. They help you spot an opponent’s weaknesses or mistakes, and there are few that do it as well as Matt Serra.

Fans who were introduced to Matt Serra through The Ultimate Fighter 4 saw The Terra corner his team throughout the show. Serra and his men picked up wins in seven of their eight quarter-final matchups.

Still unconvinced of the power of Serra’s coaching efforts? Between Weidman and teammate Costa Philippou, while under the former welterweight champion, the duo is 10-0 in the UFC middleweight division. 

Silva’s Dominance

For some who are doubting Chris Weidman, it has nothing to do with the 29-year-old’s skillset. Rather, their lack of faith is based more on the undeniable dominance of champion Anderson Silva, which has afforded him an unprecedented 16-0 record inside the Octagon.

Anderson Silva is the greatest fighter of all time. That is not an accolade that is tossed around lightly. In fact, it was earned by defeating many of the most talented names that the sport has ever known, including: Vitor Belfort, Rich Franklin, Dan Henderson, Forrest Griffin, Chael Sonnen and many more.

Weidman is a can’t-miss prospect in the middleweight division, but to suggest that he has proven himself to be better than the victim list on Silva’s resume is downright foolish.

At the end of the day, you should definitely have doubts about Chris Weidman‘s chances. However, those of you who feel as if Silva is going to walk all over the undefeated fighter are sorely mistaken.


When these two warriors collide at UFC 162, one man will have his arm raised. Perhaps it will be Chris Weidman. The New York native has all of the necessary tools to get the job done. Or does he?

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

8 Fighters Who Have Seemingly Lost Their Enthusisam for MMA

Getting punched in the face for a living is not for everyone. While many people can’t comprehend what it is like to repeatedly put your body through tremendous physical burden, for some of the top stars in mixed martial arts, it is all that they have e…

Getting punched in the face for a living is not for everyone. While many people can’t comprehend what it is like to repeatedly put your body through tremendous physical burden, for some of the top stars in mixed martial arts, it is all that they have ever known. 

Fighters climbing the ladder see their love of the sport reinforced. However, it is common to see pugilists lose that feeling for the sport once their best days are behind them.

Here is a look at eight professional fighters who are technically active, but appear to have lost their enthusiasm for MMA.

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10 MMA Fights That Have to Be Made in the Second Half of 2013

Nearing the halfway mark of 2013, fans have already been treated to some killer bookings this year. Between a superfight for the featherweight title, plus grudge matches for the welterweight and light heavyweight championships, Joe Silva has been doing…

Nearing the halfway mark of 2013, fans have already been treated to some killer bookings this year. Between a superfight for the featherweight title, plus grudge matches for the welterweight and light heavyweight championships, Joe Silva has been doing a solid job in terms of keeping fans happy.

MMA fans don’t stay content for long, though. The mouth-watering cards that gave us so much joy have come and gone, and we crave more.

The only way to curb our appetite for pugilistic entertainment is to provide us with hard-hitting matchups between warriors who will thrill us with their penchant for violence.

Here is a look at 10 MMA fights that have to be made in the second half of 2013. By no means is this a list of dream fights. Rather, this is a realistic look at the current MMA landscape and an evaluation of some can’t-miss scraps.

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