NEWARK, NJ — Sometime during the evening of UFC 159, Dana White’s phone rang, and on the other line was UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.
The two are still finalizing a 10-fight contract extension, but even as that work continues, Silva has his next marching orders in the form of a July 6 date with Chris Weidman. Which made it all the more strange when Silva called and talked about fighting not Weidman, but about a superfight with either Jon Jones or Georges St-Pierre.
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According to White, Silva had a specific request, but he wouldn’t divulge it.
“It’s not important,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who he wants to fight. He’s got to fight Weidman first. If he doesn’t beat Weidman, what difference does it make? The fight isn’t even real. Who he wants to fight doesn’t matter. He better want to fight Weidman right now.”
Given the timing of the call — roughly around the same time Jon Jones knocked off Chael Sonnen — it seems natural to think that Silva is finally interested in facing the UFC light-heavyweight champ. But even when pressed, White refused to tip his hand.
“You guys can assume whatever you want,” he said. “Assume away.”
Silva has a UFC record 10 straight title defenses and has held the middleweight title for over six years.
Earlier in the evening, Jones referred to Silva as “still my idol” after being asked if he deserved to supplant Silva in the pound-for-pound rankings.
Meanwhile, Chael Sonnen, who faced Jones on Saturday night and has also competed twice against Silva, seems to believe that Jones would win a matchup if the two were ever to meet.
“The last thing I want to do is disparage Anderson Silva, but it’s tough for me,” he said. “I whipped him for 30 minutes, he whipped me for less than 30 seconds. I whipped Jon for zero seconds and he whipped me the entire fight. It’s just tough. You’re asking me for my opinion, Jon’s better.”