UFC 162 Odds: Anderson Silva Opens as Small Favorite vs. Chris Weidman

Although UFC middleweight contender Chris Weidman is less than 10 fights into his MMA career, oddsmakers are giving him a good shot against Anderson Silva.In fact, Weidman is opening with the best betting line against Silva in years.As relayed by betti…

Although UFC middleweight contender Chris Weidman is less than 10 fights into his MMA career, oddsmakers are giving him a good shot against Anderson Silva.

In fact, Weidman is opening with the best betting line against Silva in years.

As relayed by betting aggregate website BestFightOdds, Silva has been pegged as a -215 favorite by 5Dimes, while Weidman is rated as a strong +165 underdog.

When you look at Silva’s history on the betting books, that’s actually kind of remarkable.

To break it down further, here’s the list of opening odds (via BestFightOdds) given to Silva’s opponents over the last seven years or so:

UFC 162: Anderson Silva -215 / Chris Weidman +165
• UFC 153: Anderson Silva -1350 / Stephan Bonnar +850
• UFC 148: Anderson Silva -235 / Chael Sonnen +175
• UFC 134: Anderson Silva -425 / Yushin Okami +325
• UFC 126: Anderson Silva -325 / Vitor Belfort +250
• UFC 117: Anderson Silva -450 / Chael Sonnen +300
• UFC 112: Anderson Silva -425 / Demian Maia +325
• UFC 101: Anderson Silva -240 / Forrest Griffin +190
• UFC 97: Anderson Silva -275 / Thales Leites +215
• UFC 90: Anderson Silva -370 / Patrick Cote +300
• UFC Fight Night 14: Anderson Silva -600 / James Irvin +400
• UFC 82: Anderson Silva -140 / Dan Henderson +100
• UFC 77: Anderson Silva -300 / Rich Franklin +220
• UFC 73: Anderson Silva -190 / Nate Marquardt +155

[Note: BestFightOdds does not have fighter data or odds for UFC 67, UFC 64 or UFC Fight Night 5.]

Historically, this means that Weidman has opened with the best odds against Silva since the champion’s UFC & Pride FC middleweight title unification bout against former Pride champion, Dan Henderson.

Incidentally, Weidman’s +165 underdog status gives him better odds against Silva than even welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.

Naturally, the betting line will shift in the lead up to the fight, especially in the last couple of weeks.

Although Silva is widely recognized as the No. 1 pound-for-pound MMA fighter in the sport, his major weakness is known to be strong wrestling, a trait exploited by takedown specialists like Henderson and Chael Sonnen.

Weidman’s strong odds likely come from both his undefeated 9-0 career fighting record, in addition to his credentials as a multi-time NCAA All-American wrestler.

Not only did Weidman earn two All-American honors in junior college, but he also repeated the feat in Hofstra University at the NCAA Division 1 level.

Additionally, the relatively close opening odds could also be a matter of a strong young talent against an aging champion—Weidman is in his athletic prime at 28 years old, while Silva will turn 38 on April 14 this year.

But the talented Silva has proven capable of dealing with all kinds of fighting styles, including elite wrestling, which has led to his current 16-0 record in the UFC and 10 consecutive title defenses. To put it mildly, Weidman has a tough task ahead of him, even if the early odds aren’t against him yet.

 


McKinley Noble is an MMA conspiracy theorist and tech writer. His work has appeared in GamePro, Macworld, PC World, 1UP, NVision, The Los Angeles Times, FightFans RadioMMA Mania and Bleacher Report. Talk with him on Twitter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Friday Link Dump: Zero Dark Vitor, Cruz and Vera Cut Ties With Lloyd Irvin, Spring Break Horror Stories + More

(“Operation Stockton Jesus Journey, has begun.” Props: prebek)

Chris Weidman on Ending Anderson Silva’s Reign: ‘I Believe This Is Meant to Be’ (MMAFighting)

UFC Champ Dominick Cruz, Brandon Vera and Alliance Training Center Cut Ties With Team Lloyd Irvin (BloodyElbow)

5 Fighters That Continuously Shoot Themselves in the Foot (BleacherReport)

Updated Fight Card for ‘UFC 158: St-Pierre vs Diaz’ (FightDay)

The Classic Goodridge vs. Herrera Knockout, In Etched-Wood GIF Form (Reddit_MMA)

UFC Releases 28-Fighter Cast List for ‘TUF Brazil 2’ (Sherdog)

Mila Kunis Really Knows How To Deal With Nervous Dudes (Break)

The 20 Most-Hated Duke Players of All Time (Complex)

Playoffs: Hottest Asian Babe (KillerFries)

6 Spring Break Horror Stories (MensFitness)

A Gallery of Bad Teen Fashion Through the Decades (EgoTV)

Things You Do on the Internet When You’re Drunk (DoubleViking)

Completely Harmless Photos That Sound Extremely NSFW (WorldWideInterweb)


(“Operation Stockton Jesus Journey, has begun.” Props: prebek)

Chris Weidman on Ending Anderson Silva’s Reign: ‘I Believe This Is Meant to Be’ (MMAFighting)

UFC Champ Dominick Cruz, Brandon Vera and Alliance Training Center Cut Ties With Team Lloyd Irvin (BloodyElbow)

5 Fighters That Continuously Shoot Themselves in the Foot (BleacherReport)

Updated Fight Card for ‘UFC 158: St-Pierre vs Diaz’ (FightDay)

The Classic Goodridge vs. Herrera Knockout, In Etched-Wood GIF Form (Reddit_MMA)

UFC Releases 28-Fighter Cast List for ‘TUF Brazil 2′ (Sherdog)

Mila Kunis Really Knows How To Deal With Nervous Dudes (Break)

The 20 Most-Hated Duke Players of All Time (Complex)

Playoffs: Hottest Asian Babe (KillerFries)

6 Spring Break Horror Stories (MensFitness)

A Gallery of Bad Teen Fashion Through the Decades (EgoTV)

Things You Do on the Internet When You’re Drunk (DoubleViking)

Completely Harmless Photos That Sound Extremely NSFW (WorldWideInterweb)

Anderson Silva Has Never Turned Down a Fight, Chris Weidman Won’t Be the First

On July 6, UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva will look to extend his historic title defense streak to 11 when he faces Chris Weidman in the main event of UFC 162. Some believe this fight is essentially a year in the making after Weidman dispatch…

On July 6, UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva will look to extend his historic title defense streak to 11 when he faces Chris Weidman in the main event of UFC 162.

Some believe this fight is essentially a year in the making after Weidman dispatched Mark Munoz at UFC on Fuel in July 2012, and immediately began a campaign to land the next shot at Silva and the UFC 185-pound crown.

Silva’s camp was never ultra excited about the potential fight due to Weidman‘s relative novice status in terms of being a recognizable name in the UFC as well as his overall experience level. Weidman is 9-0 as a fighter with a perfect record in the Octagon, but still falls well short of Silva’s accolades in the UFC.

Ultimately, UFC officials decided Weidman was the best choice to face Silva next, but the champion’s camp wants one thing to be perfectly clear—Silva has never turned down a fight and didn’t plan on starting with Weidman.

“At the end of the day and I’ve always said before, Anderson is there to fight and he never turned away an opponent,” said Ed Soares, Silva’s manager, when speaking to Bleacher Report on Wednesday. “We have our opinions, people ask us our opinions, but we’ve never turned away an opponent and we never will. Anderson fights whoever the UFC puts in front of him and he always has and he always will.

“When people ask our opinion, I feel we have the right to state our opinion. It is what it is, I think it’s going to be an incredible fight. I do think Chris Weidman is definitely a tough opponent, our biggest complaint was that he wasn’t the biggest name and not well known, but I know that the UFC is going to get behind him and really make it a big promotion.”

Soares and Silva were never wrong in what they said about Weidman by referencing his status as a star in the UFC. He’s never headlined a pay-per-view or even been on the main card of a UFC pay-per-view for that matter, and has only taken part in one main event for his fight against Munoz that aired on Fuel TV.

That doesn’t change the fact that Weidman has separated himself from the rest of the middleweight division with his record and immense talent showcased every time he’s fought. Soares has no doubt that even if Weidman isn’t the most well-known name now, by the time July rolls around everybody will be well-aware of what he brings to the table.

“I’ve got to leave it in their hands,” Soares said about the UFC. “People always doubted what the UFC does and they doubted them in the Ronda Rousey fight and look what ended up happening. It was a huge success. So time and time again they prove themselves and they know what they’re doing and we’ve got to get behind them and believe this is going to be a great, huge event.”

At 37 years of age, Silva has said time and time again he wants to be part of the biggest fights possible to continue his legacy as the greatest fighter mixed martial arts has ever seen. He’s also faced the absolute best of the best throughout his career, and while Weidman wasn’t always his first choice, he’s who the UFC wanted him to fight, so they will fight.

“It has to do with trying to put the biggest fights possible together,” said Soares. “If Chris Weidman is really what everybody says he is, he would have been there in two more fights with more promotion. In our business sometimes we don’t get those luxuries. People get injured, people get hurt, people that people thought were going to win didn’t win, so this business is strategically you want to plan something and it never really goes to plan. 

“You take it one at a time, one opportunity at a time, and right now Chris Weidman is the best opportunity at the time. Anderson’s going to go out there and train and put on a show like he always does. Everyone that thought he should have got a shot, now he’s getting a shot.”

Sometimes asking to face Silva and then actually fighting him becomes a clear-cut case of “be careful what you wish for,” but Weidman will finally have his chance to prove he can go with the best middleweight in the world on July 6 at UFC 162.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and all quotes were obtained first hand unless otherwise noted.

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Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman Is Set for UFC 162 on July 6th [HOLY CRAP]


(“I…[*punch*]…HATE…[*punch*]…FRIGGIN’…[*punch*]…CLOWNS!!!” Photo via MMAWeekly)

From threatening a year-long vacation to suggesting far-less-worthy challengers, UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and his management team did their best to avoid fighting undefeated contender Chris Weidman. But according to a new report from Mark La Monica at Newsday, the match is going to happen, whether they like it or not. Here’s the scoop:

ALBANY — Chris Weidman will finally get the title shot against UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva on July 4th weekend at UFC 161 in Las Vegas, Newsday has learned. [Update: The fight will actually headline UFC 162, on July 6th. UFC 161 is the Winnipeg event that will be headlined by Barao vs. Wineland.]

UFC chief executive Lorenzo Fertitta on Wednesday told Weidman, a Baldwin native, in the Capitol building that he spoke to Silva and that he agreed to the fight.

“Dream come true,” Weidman said. “Ever since I’ve been fighting, Anderson Silva has been the champion and I’ve been visualizing beating him. Now I have the opportunity. I have to make the most of it.”


(“I…[*punch*]…HATE…[*punch*]…FRIGGIN’…[*punch*]…CLOWNS!!!” Photo via MMAWeekly)

From threatening a year-long vacation to suggesting far-less-worthy challengers, UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and his management team did their best to avoid fighting undefeated contender Chris Weidman. But according to a new report from Mark La Monica at Newsday, the match is going to happen, whether they like it or not. Here’s the scoop:

ALBANY — Chris Weidman will finally get the title shot against UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva on July 4th weekend at UFC 161 in Las Vegas, Newsday has learned. [Update: The fight will actually headline UFC 162, on July 6th. UFC 161 is the Winnipeg event that will be headlined by Barao vs. Wineland.]

UFC chief executive Lorenzo Fertitta on Wednesday told Weidman, a Baldwin native, in the Capitol building that he spoke to Silva and that he agreed to the fight.

“Dream come true,” Weidman said. “Ever since I’ve been fighting, Anderson Silva has been the champion and I’ve been visualizing beating him. Now I have the opportunity. I have to make the most of it.”

As Newsday reports, bout agreements have yet to be signed, but getting Silva to agree to the fight was the biggest hurdle, as the Spider has tried to hold out for more lucrative fights against bigger names.

Finally, Chris Weidman is getting his fairy-tale ending. The problem is, he’ll be doing it after a long injury layoff, due to the right labrum tear he suffered in November and his subsequent surgery. (For the record, Weidman says he’s “100 percent healed” as of yesterday, and has been cleared to resume training.) Weidman hasn’t competed since his second-round destruction of Mark Munoz last July — which was thrilling at the time, but now feels like ancient history.

So, for those of you who anointed Weidman as the future of the UFC middleweight division after he KO’d Munoz, and hyped him as Anderson Silva’s worst nightmare…do you still feel the same way today?

Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman Title Fight Agreed for UFC Event on July 6

Middleweight contender Chris Weidman has been actively lobbying for a title shot against middleweight champion Anderson Silva, and it looks like he just might get that chance.All we need now is an official UFC announcement.In advance of that usual matc…

Middleweight contender Chris Weidman has been actively lobbying for a title shot against middleweight champion Anderson Silva, and it looks like he just might get that chance.

All we need now is an official UFC announcement.

In advance of that usual matchmaking formality, Newsday Sports‘ Mark La Monica has confirmed the bout via Twitter by way of UFC chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta:

 

That report was also confirmed by MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani not long afterward, with the specific date targeted for July 6:

 

Out of a long line of potential contenders, Weidman is effectively the last man standing for Silva, despite his relatively light MMA record and recent string of injuries.

In just the past six months alone, the undefeated NCAA All-American wrestler has endured both an elbow surgery (via MMA Fighting) and a shoulder surgery (via MMA Junkie), keeping him from the Octagon for several months.

By the time Weidman steps into the Octagon to face Silva, he’ll be facing a little under a year of ring rust, while Silva will be relatively fresher after his UFC 153 bout last October.

With potential contenders Michael Bisping, Hector Lombard, Vitor Belfort, Chael Sonnen, and even Rashad Evans either riding losses or seeking fights in other division, UFC president Dana White signaled just last February that Weidman was the only option left for Silva.

That also comes on the heels of failed negotiations for an Anderson Silva vs. Georges St-Pierre superfight, as both fighters’ camps couldn’t agree on a fair weight limit for the match. Instead, GSP will face Nick Diaz at UFC 158 in Montreal’s Bell Centre.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Anderson Silva Not Sold on Facing Chris Weidman; White Knows He Wants Big Fights

It remains unclear when or who UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva will next compete against despite rumors of a potential title fight against Chris Weidman looming for July. UFC president Dana White said recently that the promotion was in the beg…

It remains unclear when or who UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva will next compete against despite rumors of a potential title fight against Chris Weidman looming for July.

UFC president Dana White said recently that the promotion was in the beginning stages of negotiations to put Silva back in action against the fighter most consider to be the No. 1 contender at 185 pounds.

For the first time since those reports surfaced, Silva is commenting on the bout and how it comes much to his surprise that he’s rumored to fight anyone right now.

“Really? This is a new one for me,” Silva told UFC Tonight on Tuesday when asked about the proposed bout with Chris Weidman.  

Now, Silva has been known on more than a few occasions to have fun with the media, not exactly saying what is or isn’t on his mind or what’s going on with contract or fight negotiations, so it’s likely he’s well aware of the fight against Chris Weidman.

Still, it doesn’t appear Silva is any warmer now about facing Chris Weidman than he was last year when he shot down the possible bout after looking at the New York native’s record and overall lack of UFC experience.

Silva believes a fight against Weidman is good for only one person – Chris Weidman.

“It’s good for Chris Weidman, not for me,” Silva said. “He’s a boy, he’s a kid, it’s good for Chris Weidman.”

Weidman has shouted quite loudly about his desire to face Silva in the Octagon once his surgically repaired shoulder is back to full health and he can return to action in the summer.

Is this just another classic game of cat and mouse perpetrated to perfection by Anderson Silva, or does he legitimately have no desire to face Chris Weidman?

UFC president Dana White has been dealing with Anderson Silva for many years, and he knows his champion very well. He describes everything with Silva as “a process” whether it’s for a fight or a new contract.

One point he will concede, however, is that Silva, at 37 years of age, is entering the tail end of his career and what he wants right now are the biggest fights the UFC can put him in.

“It’s always a process with Anderson Silva, but to be honest, he wants big fights,” White told UFC Tonight.  “He’s 38 years old, the guy still looks and fights like he’s 25, but you don’t know how much time he has left. He wants that GSP (Georges St-Pierre) fight, he wants that Jon Jones fight and he wants big fights.”

White is confident as they continue to negotiate with Silva on a new multi-fight contract that he will eventually face Chris Weidman. Whether it happens in July or not remains to be seen.

“Anderson Silva still has to sign a new UFC contract. It’s either going to be an eight or 10-fight deal and he’s going to have to fight Chris Weidman in there somewhere,” said White.

Could this latest move by Silva just be posturing to continue building the hype for a fight against Weidman, or will he move to hopefully face someone like Jon Jones later this year instead?

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and all quotes were obtained first hand unless otherwise noted

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