Matchmaker Joe Silva and the UFC’s top brass are all in favor of Chris Weidman vying for Anderson Silva’s 185-pound crown. However, the ultimate decision to get this fight off the ground lies with “The Spider”:
“My manager has talked to Joe Silva and all of them. And supposedly they actually really want me to fight Anderson. The question is, will Anderson fight me? I think that’s what it’s coming down to. When is Anderson going to be ready to fight again? That whole thing. You know, Anderson Silva’s making so much money in Brazil right now, he’s chilling. He’s making so much money outside the ring, I don’t know if he’s so jumpy to jump in there with a guy who’s young, hungry, who’s a bad match-up for him on paper like me, and whose name is not (as lucrative as) a Chael Sonnen at this point,” Weidman told “The MMA Hour” (h/t MMAMania.com).
At UFC 148, in an outstanding performance, Silva defended his title for a 10th successive time after stopping Chael Sonnen in the second-round of their eagerly awaited rematch.
Conversely, Weidman catapulted himself into top five contendership following his decimation of Mark Munoz at UFC on FUEL TV 4.
Whilst Silva has traipsed back to Brazil for some much needed rest and relaxation, Weidman has been staking his claim as the most worthy 185-pounder to throw hands with as well as end the reign of the perennial champion.
“The All-American” has been on a tear since he ventured into the Zuffa-based promotion, and thus far, he’s recorded five straight victories in as many outings—two by way of unanimous decision, two via submission and the TKO he inflicted on “The Filipino Wrecking Machine.”
Furthermore, he was awarded Knockout of the Night and Submission of the Night honors for two of the above-mentioned wins.
From what has been witnessed of the Baldwin, New Yorker, it seems he possesses the pedigree to contest with the best that the current middleweight division has to offer.
The two-time All-American possesses the requisite skill set—proficient grappling and an ever-improving standup game.
And to add to the equation, he’s in the zone—his confidence and self-belief are at an all time high, hence the reason he truly believes that he’ll not only beat Silva, but comprehensively finish him in the process.
Every single time I’ve had a full training camp, I’ve finished the fight. This is the first one that got out of the first round. I’ve beaten two top-five guys in a row. And I think I’m a stylistic nightmare for Anderson Silva. A lot of these guys, I see them go on record basically saying ‘I’d just love a shot at Anderson Silva to see how I’d do.’ I’m not in here to just to able to share the cage with Anderson Silva. That’s not my goal at all, I’d be far from content with that. I’m going in there to beat Anderson Silva. And to finish Anderson Silva. Im not just saying that out of the side of my mouth. I’m being completely truthful. If I get a fight with Anderson Silva, I am going in there to finish him, and if I were just to win against Anderson Silva, I wouldn’t even be satisfied, I need to go in there and finish him. That’s the truth. I might be out of my mind, but, I really believe that.
Stylistic-wise, akin to Sonnen, Weidman would make things difficult for Silva.
However, nous will have to prevail here—Silva (32-4 MMA, 15-0 UFC) is the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter on the planet for a reason—a 15-fight win streak spanning six-years, a record number of title defenses and he’s also arguably the best precision striker in all of MMA.
Moreover, the Sao Paulo denizen has overcome adversity, something which Weidman (9-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) has yet to encounter.
In the tangled web of The Spider, many have come, many have seen, but all have been conquered.
With regards to Weidman, the idiom “Be careful what you wish for” comes to mind.
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