The specter of superfights looms large over the stars of today’s era of mixed martial arts. For UFC champions Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva, and Jon Jones, rarely does a day pass without the same few questions arising, inquiring minds wondering aloud whether they will fight another member of the triumvirate.
“I think superfights are important for the sport,” Jones explained to MMAFighting.com. “They’re important for legacies. A desire to compete in one, I really don’t have this big desire to compete against anyone in particular. Right now I have a good recipe of success, and they say if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. So unless someone comes and challenges me, or what not, I’m fine going on about my merry way and competing against these light heavyweights.”
Jones’ words are telling, considering the only superfight with his name attached is the one against Silva. It’s a blockbuster match-up, potentially the biggest in the history of the sport, and as recent as a year ago it seemed impossible.
Yet with incentives slowly mounting, both publicly and financially, both men have shown signs of warming to the idea.
“Everything is a possibility,” the young champ teased. “I really can’t count too much out. I do believe that we’re put on this earth to think big and dream big, and not limit ourselves. And fighting Anderson would be a definite testament of my faith and my warrior experience, and things like that. So who knows what will happen in the future.”
Aware of how his words would be interpreted, Jones then added, “Sounds like we’re breaking, huh? Me and Anderson, sounds like the story is twisting? I’m up for whatever, man.”
While Jones may have been joking, there seems to be a silver of truth in his words. The leap from ‘I’ll never fight him’ to ‘I’ll fight him if he challenges me’ is a strong one to make in a short period of time.
There’s no question UFC President Dana White is aware of the massive drawing power of a fight between pound-for-pound kings. And although Silva failed to secure a superfight for his next bout, White recently vowed the Brazilian would fight both Jones and St-Pierre before his career was over.
“Anderson Silva is a guy that likes to challenge himself,” he explained. “And I think he likes to f–k with you guys, to be honest with you. I’ll read something and I’ll be like, ‘What the f–k? He said that?’ I think he just plays with you guys because the conversations we have behind the scenes are completely different then what is said publicly. And when has Anderson Silva never stepped up to the plate and done what we’ve asked him or needed him to do?
“He’ll fight anybody. He’ll fight anybody, and he knows he’ll win if he does. That’s how he talks behind closed doors.”