After suffering the first defeat of his UFC career at UFC 162, it seemed that revenge was the furthest thing from Anderson Silva‘s mind.
The former middleweight champion expressed no desire for a rematch with Chris Weidman when questioned after the fight, and he echoed this sentiment during the event’s post-fight presser.
But according to Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting, Silva has changed his mind.
According to sources very close to the former UFC middleweight champion, Silva changed his tune about not fighting Weidman again just hours after he was knocked out by Weidman at UFC 162 on Saturday night in Las Vegas. The sources said they have never seen Silva so motivated to fight someone, and that a little over 24 hours after the loss Silva was jokingly wishing the rematch could happen this week. That’s how badly he wants to avenge his loss to Weidman.
Helwani goes on to explain that the “sources” he refers to spoke on the condition of anonymity. He also notes that Silva wants to fight Weidman again before the end of the year, not in February like Dana White mused.
Silva vs. Weidman II has not been officially announced, but it seems with Silva now on board there is nothing holding it back. Now it seems it’s only a matter of time before it gets booked.
Even before news broke of Silva’s change of heart, oddsmakers had released an opening line on the rematch, so this report is not all that shocking.
If the bout is to happen in 2013, it would have to join a card that already has a main event. The most likely candidate to be bumped to co-main event status could be Ronda Rousey vs. Miesha Tate on the promotion’s year-end card (UFC 168), but that’s only speculation on my part.
In fact, all of this is speculation.
Though the fight is very likely to occur now, it doesn’t mean that Silva’s fervor will be enough to make it happen this year. February 2014’s Super Bowl weekend is still very possible.
But, if nothing else, perhaps this report suggests that Silva will approach a rematch with Weidman with a little more focus than he did this past Saturday.
Dancing with the Stars fans may have to get their kicks somewhere else besides Weidman vs. Silva II, because if “The Spider” is as dedicated as “the source” claims, he may be less inclined to shimmy around and more inclined to actually attack.
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