UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva has a big fight in front of him Saturday night when he faces Chris Weidman in the main event of UFC 162, but that doesn’t mean other potential opponents aren’t going to come up.
With Silva’s record of 16 wins with no losses in the UFC, there is always a good chance he’s going to come away victorious and move onto the next challenge of his illustrious career.
Earlier this week while at a media luncheon, Silva was asked about the possibility of a superfight at some point against light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. His reaction surprised more than a few people (via MMAFighting).
“Jon Jones in his class is the best,” Silva said. “If I fight Jon Jones, I don’t think I’m going to win.”
The response was met with some shock and awe because rarely does a fighter—especially one with Silva’s credentials—openly admit that any potential bout would not go his way.
On Tuesday night during an interview with UFC Tonight, co-host Chael Sonnen brought Jones up to Silva again to get a little more detail on why he said what he said about a fight against the light heavyweight champion.
Whether his answer earlier this week was Silva’s way of stirring the pot during fight week, or he was just having fun with the media, his response on Tuesday seemed a little more genuine.
“My opinion is this—I fight Jon Jones, or all the guys in my class, all the guys that work in the UFC. I respect all the fighters and respect Jon Jones. I respect Chris Weidman,” Silva said.
“But I’m here for working. I’m not scared for Jon Jones, for Chris Weidman, or whoever. I’m here for a fight, that’s it, it’s simple.”
If Silva is successful against Weidman on Saturday night, there is currently not a No. 1 contender already waiting in line for the next title shot. Former UFC champion Vitor Belfort has done his best to stake his claim, but it’s still hard to forget the front kick to the mush he received in the first round the last time he took on Silva in the Octagon.
So what about a potential move to 205 pounds where Silva has already fought three times previously, including one win over former champion Forrest Griffin?
“I don’t know. I have my place in my class. I don’t have the big goal to change my class,” Silva revealed. “I have my belt in my class, I have my story in my class, that’s it.”
At least for now it seems Silva will stick around at middleweight, and that’s where he will keep his focus through this weekend when he faces Weidman at UFC 162.
“It’s a great fight, Saturday night,” Silva said about the title bout. “Weidman has good jiu-jitsu, good wrestling, good stand up. It’s a great fight.”
Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report
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