Tag: UFC 168

Anderson Silva Wants A Third Crack at Chris Weidman, Who Won By ‘Accident’ at UFC 168


(Now cast-free, the Spider will reportedly be walking without crutches by next month. / Photo via Instagram.com/UFC)

I’m not sure if this is good news or bad news, but Anderson Silva has no plans to retire following his sickening leg break at UFC 168, and the former middleweight champ is looking for a third fight against Chris Weidman as soon as he recovers. In fact, Silva is already trying to build heat for a re-rematch, crapping all over Weidman’s latest win in a new interview with Globo. As MMAFighting’s Guilherme Cruz translates:

“I believe that, if you pay attention to these technical details, you will see that (Weidman checking the kick) was instinct, not something that he trained to do,” Silva said. “No, I don’t think (Weidman should consider it a win). It was an accident. And I’m pretty sure I would have won the fight…

“To land the perfect kick, I needed to distract him by punching him in the face so he wouldn’t pay attention to the kick. He was protecting the upper part of his body, and the raised leg instinctively. The kick was so strong he lost balance…I saw my mistake, and now I’m only worried about my comeback. If the UFC thinks I deserve another opportunity (against Weidman) or if I need to earn it. I just want to do what I do, it doesn’t matter if it’s for the title or not. I want to do what I do well.”

Yes, Anderson, he raised his leg instinctively — almost as if he’d been drilling the defensive technique for months and was doing it on muscle-memory alone. Since the fight, Weidman has repeatedly stated that checking leg-kicks was a specific part of his gameplan going into his second meeting with Silva, so to imply that the checked kick was in any way “accidental” is absurd, and kind of disrespectful. Plus, Silva is “pretty sure [he] would have won the fight” if his leg didn’t snap in half? Congrats, Andy — you have officially entered the loss-justification leaderboard, somewhere between “the Japanese poisoned my food” and “I had a cracked skull, bro.”

Anderson’s desire to return to action is even crazier when you consider how agonizing his recovery has been to this point:


(Now cast-free, the Spider will reportedly be walking without crutches by next month. / Photo via Instagram.com/UFC)

I’m not sure if this is good news or bad news, but Anderson Silva has no plans to retire following his sickening leg break at UFC 168, and the former middleweight champ is looking for a third fight against Chris Weidman as soon as he recovers. In fact, Silva is already trying to build heat for a re-rematch, crapping all over Weidman’s latest win in a new interview with Globo. As MMAFighting’s Guilherme Cruz translates:

“I believe that, if you pay attention to these technical details, you will see that (Weidman checking the kick) was instinct, not something that he trained to do,” Silva said. “No, I don’t think (Weidman should consider it a win). It was an accident. And I’m pretty sure I would have won the fight…

“To land the perfect kick, I needed to distract him by punching him in the face so he wouldn’t pay attention to the kick. He was protecting the upper part of his body, and the raised leg instinctively. The kick was so strong he lost balance…I saw my mistake, and now I’m only worried about my comeback. If the UFC thinks I deserve another opportunity (against Weidman) or if I need to earn it. I just want to do what I do, it doesn’t matter if it’s for the title or not. I want to do what I do well.”

Yes, Anderson, he raised his leg instinctively — almost as if he’d been drilling the defensive technique for months and was doing it on muscle-memory alone. Since the fight, Weidman has repeatedly stated that checking leg-kicks was a specific part of his gameplan going into his second meeting with Silva, so to imply that the checked kick was in any way “accidental” is absurd, and kind of disrespectful. Plus, Silva is “pretty sure [he] would have won the fight” if his leg didn’t snap in half? Congrats, Andy — you have officially entered the loss-justification leaderboard, somewhere between “the Japanese poisoned my food” and “I had a cracked skull, bro.”

Anderson’s desire to return to action is even crazier when you consider how agonizing his recovery has been to this point:

Right after he suffered the injury, “The Spider” wondered if he would ever walk again.

“The only thing I was thinking was ‘is it over? Will I walk again?’” he said “I was scared that I wouldn’t walk again. Many things were going through my head at that moment. I’m 38 now, and I will be 39 in April. That’s what I’m afraid of, but I’m confident that I will. I will be back”…

The MMA legend is still in pain, and he revealed that sometimes he asks his wife to take him for a ride around Los Angeles so he can just sit and cry away from his kids. Pain is part of Silva’s routine now, and he can’t even sleep without it.

“When I landed the kick I heard a loud noise, the sound of a bone breaking, and the pain was huge. And since I left the hospital, I can’t sleep,” he said. “It’s really hard. I think about it, and I wondered why. ‘Why, my God, I had to go through all this?’ I wonder which message He’s trying to teach me at this moment.”

Jeez, I don’t know. Maybe He’s telling you to walk away now while you still have your mental faculties? Maybe He’s teaching you a painful lesson about hubris? Maybe bad things happen to good people because God doesn’t actually intervene in the lives of human beings, positively or negatively? Like, He’s content to just hang back and watch, and it’s up to us to avoid breaking our legs? Maybe God doesn’t actually like MMA in the first place, and has always preferred boxing and pro-wrestling?

According to athletes who have already lived through what Silva is dealing with, the Spider will never be the same after this. He’s been a professional MMA fighter for over 16 years, and his daily life is now filled with inescapable pain. As an outsider looking in, I can’t comprehend why any fighter — especially one who has already established himself as the greatest of all time — would want to further risk his health, just to have a third fight against a guy who already beat him twice. Of course, Silva is crazy like a champion, and I’m just some regular shmuck. But still, is it really worth it?

Report: ‘Weidman vs. Silva 2? Becomes 7th UFC Pay-Per-View to Break One Million Buys


(“Alright fellas, now let’s go eat!” — Matt Serra, pretty much any time of day. / Photo via MMAFighting.com)

It’s been over three years since the UFC produced a pay-per-view that earned more than one million buys, but it appears that UFC 168: Weidman vs. Silva 2 has ended the drought. According to Dave Meltzer, UFC 168 broke the seven-figure threshold, selling up to 1.1 million PPVs.

If Meltzer’s projections are accurate, UFC 168 would become the seventh UFC PPV to earn a million-plus buyrate. The promotion first hit the mark with UFC 66: Liddell v. Ortiz II, which did an estimated 1,050,000 buys in December 2006. Two years later, the UFC scored back-to-back million-sellers with UFC 91: Lesnar v. Couture (1,010,000) and UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008 (1,000,000).

In July 2009, the UFC put on its most successful show to date when UFC 100 — which featured Brock Lesnar and Georges St-Pierre on the same card — took in an astounding 1.6 million buys, and in 2010, the promotion hit seven figures twice with UFC 114: Evans vs. Jackson in May (1,000,000) and UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin in July (1,060,000).

A small handful of UFC shows have crept into 900k+ territory since July 2010 — all headlined by superstars like Lesnar, St-Pierre, and Anderson Silva — but no others managed to score an even million until UFC 168, which could go down as the second-most-successful UFC PPV of all time. I guess MMA fans didn’t mind paying that extra five bucks after all.

Previously: ‘UFC 168: Weidman vs. Silva 2? Earned the Second-Biggest MMA Live Gate in Nevada History


(“Alright fellas, now let’s go eat!” — Matt Serra, pretty much any time of day. / Photo via MMAFighting.com)

It’s been over three years since the UFC produced a pay-per-view that earned more than one million buys, but it appears that UFC 168: Weidman vs. Silva 2 has ended the drought. According to Dave Meltzer, UFC 168 broke the seven-figure threshold, selling up to 1.1 million PPVs.

If Meltzer’s projections are accurate, UFC 168 would become the seventh UFC PPV to earn a million-plus buyrate. The promotion first hit the mark with UFC 66: Liddell v. Ortiz II, which did an estimated 1,050,000 buys in December 2006. Two years later, the UFC scored back-to-back million-sellers with UFC 91: Lesnar v. Couture (1,010,000) and UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008 (1,000,000).

In July 2009, the UFC put on its most successful show to date when UFC 100 — which featured Brock Lesnar and Georges St-Pierre on the same card — took in an astounding 1.6 million buys, and in 2010, the promotion hit seven figures twice with UFC 114: Evans vs. Jackson in May (1,000,000) and UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin in July (1,060,000).

A small handful of UFC shows have crept into 900k+ territory since July 2010 — all headlined by superstars like Lesnar, St-Pierre, and Anderson Silva — but no others managed to score an even million until UFC 168, which could go down as the second-most-successful UFC PPV of all time. I guess MMA fans didn’t mind paying that extra five bucks after all.

Previously: ‘UFC 168: Weidman vs. Silva 2? Earned the Second-Biggest MMA Live Gate in Nevada History

UFC 168 Pay-Per-View Buys Top 1 Million, Second Highest in Promotion’s History

UFC 168 brought eager fight fans to their couches and recliners across the globe by the millions—literally. 
On Wednesday evening’s edition of “Wrestling Observer Radio,” noted MMA historian and journalist Dave Meltzer spoke with his co-host…

UFC 168 brought eager fight fans to their couches and recliners across the globe by the millions—literally. 

On Wednesday evening’s edition of “Wrestling Observer Radio,” noted MMA historian and journalist Dave Meltzer spoke with his co-host Bryan Alvarez, saying (h/t Fansided’s Josh Sanchez for the transcript):

Bryan Alvarez: The UFC buy rate, what’s it looking like for the Silva show? It was not a failure, PPV is not dead when you have the right event.

Dave Meltzer: No, no, no. It’s between 1 and 1.1 million… The late buys haven’t been counted, and there’s always going to be lag in recording, things like that, so it’s probably going to end up 1.1 million.

If Meltzer‘s numbers are accurate, UFC 168 was huge for the business, and it sends the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization into 2014 with plenty of confidence for what will come next. 

Taking Meltzer‘s figure of 1.1 million buys and comparing it with data compiled by The MMApayout.com Blue Book, UFC 168 stands as the company’s second most purchased pay-per-view to date. 

The record holder, UFC 100, notched 1.6 million buys, while UFC 66, UFC 91, UFC 92, UFC 114 and UFC 116 all cracked the million mark as well. 

This data regarding the December 2013 event is undoubtedly positive for the organization, but it should be met with bridled enthusiasm. 

Yes, the UFC closed the year in emphatic fashion, but the organization is now without one of its biggest draws in welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, and Anderson Silva—who fought in UFC 168’s main event—may need a year (or more) to recover from a grisly leg injury suffered in battle. 

Still, pulling 1.1 million buys is an impressive feat, and UFC 168 will go down as the first event since 2010 that drew one million fight fans out of the woodwork to check out some artful violence inside the Octagon. 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 168 Video: X-Cam Highlights

Distinctly marked with sensational knockouts, scintillating submissions and barbaric warfare, UFC 168 will forever be remembered as one of the greatest pay-per-view events of all time.
From Robbie Peralta’s third-round preliminary-card knockout to Ande…

Distinctly marked with sensational knockouts, scintillating submissions and barbaric warfare, UFC 168 will forever be remembered as one of the greatest pay-per-view events of all time.

From Robbie Peralta’s third-round preliminary-card knockout to Anderson Silva’s unbearable demise, Bobby Voelker’s bloody grill to Ronda Rousey’s perennial armbar, each and every fight possesses its own memorable moment.

No to mention the seven-straight finishes that started on Fox Sports 1 and spilled over into the main card, which has to be some sort of record.

So, what better way to celebrate such a momentous occasion than to relive Dec. 28 through the UFC’s always fascinating X-Cam highlight reel?

There isn’t one. 

Seeing pristine punches, gut-wrenching kicks, powerful ground-and-pound, elevated elbows, sensational grappling and tactical timing displayed in super slow mo is something truly out of this world.

It’s like watching steak grill or chicken fry.  It’s like seeing your school day cancelled from serious snowfall the night before.  It’s just something you have to see.

Enjoy.

 

*Youtube video courtesy of the UFC.

 

For more UFC news and coverage, .

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Anderson Silva Posts Latest ‘Leg Break’ Rehab Photo to His Instagram Page

Rather than deal with the most horrific injury of his career privately, as expected, former pound-for-pound king Anderson Silva has chosen to document the gruesome broken leg he suffered at UFC 168.
Just 10 days ago, “The Spider” fell to the ground in …

Rather than deal with the most horrific injury of his career privately, as expected, former pound-for-pound king Anderson Silva has chosen to document the gruesome broken leg he suffered at UFC 168.

Just 10 days ago, “The Spider” fell to the ground in agony after watching middleweight champ Chris Weidman check one of his low kicks and, in the process, snap his tibia and fibula in one terrifying motion.

Silva underwent successful emergency surgery in Las Vegas the night of the fight. He left Las Vegas three days later to return to his home in Los Angeles. 

Yesterday, the typically introverted Silva posted the latest photo of his recovery process via Instagram.

The man who performed Silva’s surgery, Dr. Steven Sanders, repaired his splintered tibia with a titanium rod.

Sanders pointed out on an episode of SiriusXM’s Tapout Radio that The Spider may need a 12-month recovery period before he can consider throwing a low kick.

From a pure physical perspective of the bone, optimistically, yes we would like to see his bones heal over a three to nine month period of time. Then, you of course have the soft tissues around the bone, and that is obviously going to remain a sensitive area. So I guess there are gradations of what his activity level will be and he will be dictating a lot of that to us as the next following months unfold. I would not have anyone with that injury—regardless of the patient—no one would be involved in a striking type, or high contact sport to that area. Easily could be anywhere from six to 12 months.

Before shattering Silva’s leg, Weidman served The Spider his first defeat with the promotion and first career knockout at UFC 162. Silva was riding a 16-fight UFC winning streak heading into UFC 162, one that included 11 wins in title fights.

 

 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

‘UFC 168: Weidman vs. Silva 2? Earned the Second-Biggest MMA Live Gate in Nevada History


(How long have I been saying that Anderson Silva is a member of the Illuminati? WELL NOW I HAVE PROOF, MAN. / Image va hlydly)

Yesterday, Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer confirmed that UFC 168: Weidman vs. Silva 2 drew $6,238,792.50 in ticket sales, making it the second-highest-grossing live gate for an MMA event held in Nevada. As MMAJunkie explains, 14,574 tickets were sold for the December 28th event at Las Vegas’s MGM Grand Garden Arena, and the average paid ticket price was $428.07. In addition to the paid tickets, 1,076 seats were comped.

Despite UFC 168’s monster performance at the box office, it still fell short of another big Anderson Silva rematch at the MGM Grand Garden Arena — UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen 2, which earned $6,901,655 back in July 2012. Coincidentally, Anderson Silva’s first meeting with Chris Weidman in July 2013 landed at #5 in the all-time list of live gates at the Grand Garden Arena, further illustrating how badly the UFC needs this guy.

Speaking of which, the surgeon who re-assembled the Spider’s shattered left leg says that it could be up to a year before Silva can safely throw leg kicks again. Meanwhile, Silva’s manager Jorge Guimaraes wants the former middleweight champ to take a superfight against Georges St-Pierre when he returns from rehabbing his broken limb. Odds of that happening this year? Slim to friggin’ none — which is just another reason why the UFC likely won’t produce another gargantuan Las Vegas live gate any time soon.


(How long have I been saying that Anderson Silva is a member of the Illuminati? WELL NOW I HAVE PROOF, MAN. / Image va hlydly)

Yesterday, Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer confirmed that UFC 168: Weidman vs. Silva 2 drew $6,238,792.50 in ticket sales, making it the second-highest-grossing live gate for an MMA event held in Nevada. As MMAJunkie explains, 14,574 tickets were sold for the December 28th event at Las Vegas’s MGM Grand Garden Arena, and the average paid ticket price was $428.07. In addition to the paid tickets, 1,076 seats were comped.

Despite UFC 168′s monster performance at the box office, it still fell short of another big Anderson Silva rematch at the MGM Grand Garden Arena — UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen 2, which earned $6,901,655 back in July 2012. Coincidentally, Anderson Silva’s first meeting with Chris Weidman in July 2013 landed at #5 in the all-time list of live gates at the Grand Garden Arena, further illustrating how badly the UFC needs this guy.

Speaking of which, the surgeon who re-assembled the Spider’s shattered left leg says that it could be up to a year before Silva can safely throw leg kicks again. Meanwhile, Silva’s manager Jorge Guimaraes wants the former middleweight champ to take a superfight against Georges St-Pierre when he returns from rehabbing his broken limb. Odds of that happening this year? Slim to friggin’ none — which is just another reason why the UFC likely won’t produce another gargantuan Las Vegas live gate any time soon.