UFC on Fuel 8: Keys to Victory for Wanderlei Silva

Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva embodies the term “fan-friendly fighter.”He possesses a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but he rarely uses it.He has an excellent takedown rate of 67 percent inside the Octagon, but you rarely see him try to ground…

Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva embodies the term “fan-friendly fighter.”

He possesses a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but he rarely uses it.

He has an excellent takedown rate of 67 percent inside the Octagon, but you rarely see him try to ground his opponent, either.

Silva fights for the fans before himself, and he frequently abandons any advantage he has in the ground game in favor of a stand-and-bang brawl.

Whether he fights at middleweight or light heavyweight, this tactic serves up mixed results for The Axe Murderer.

He posted one iconic knockout over Keith Jardine at 205, and he also obliterated Cung Le in Round 2 of their UFC 139 affair at 185 pounds.

On the other hand, Silva has been brutally knocked out himself once in each weight class, so it appears that Wandy can traverse weight classes as he pleases, but the results will stay the same.

Such is the double-edged sword of his rock-em-sock-em approach, and with a matchup against notable striker Brian Stann looming at UFC on Fuel TV 8, it would seems fans are in for another classic melee in side the Octagon.

This fight is incredibly dangerous for Silva, but it is also incredibly winnable.

Click on to see what Silva needs to do to top “All-American” in Japan.

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Wanderlei Silva vs Brian Stann: Preview, Odds and Predictions for UFC on Fuel 8

The UFC returns on Saturday, March 2 on Fuel TV with an 11-fight card headlined by Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann.The light heavyweight showcase will be Silva’s first bout in Japan since 2006.Six fights will be featured on Fuel, and five fights will o…

The UFC returns on Saturday, March 2 on Fuel TV with an 11-fight card headlined by Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann.

The light heavyweight showcase will be Silva’s first bout in Japan since 2006.

Six fights will be featured on Fuel, and five fights will open the night on Facebook. It will be another evening filled with fist-flying action. The eighth installment of UFC on Fuel TV should be another exciting affair.

Here is a look at the full card along with predictions and fight odds for each bout.

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Wanderlei Silva vs Brian Stann: Preview, Odds and Predictions for UFC on Fuel 8

The UFC returns on Saturday, March 2 on Fuel TV with an 11-fight card headlined by Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann.The light heavyweight showcase will be Silva’s first bout in Japan since 2006.Six fights will be featured on Fuel, and five fights will o…

The UFC returns on Saturday, March 2 on Fuel TV with an 11-fight card headlined by Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann.

The light heavyweight showcase will be Silva’s first bout in Japan since 2006.

Six fights will be featured on Fuel, and five fights will open the night on Facebook. It will be another evening filled with fist-flying action. The eighth installment of UFC on Fuel TV should be another exciting affair.

Here is a look at the full card along with predictions and fight odds for each bout.

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UFC on Fuel 8: Info and Predictions for Silva vs Stann

The last time the UFC visited the Land of the Rising Sun, fans were treated to a memorable evening of knockouts and exciting battles that remain fresh in our minds one full year later. On Saturday night, UFC on Fuel 8 brings a lineup that promises an e…

The last time the UFC visited the Land of the Rising Sun, fans were treated to a memorable evening of knockouts and exciting battles that remain fresh in our minds one full year later. On Saturday night, UFC on Fuel 8 brings a lineup that promises an equally entertaining show.

In the main event, PRIDE legend Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva meets U.S. Marine Brian Stann in a light heavyweight battle that should provide tremendous fireworks.

Silva isn’t the only familiar face returning to Japan, as fellow PRIDE stars Mark Hunt and Takanori Gomi return to the land where they gained their fame in respective matchups with Stefan Struve and Diego Sanchez.

Without any further ado, let’s take a look at the UFC on Fuel 8 fight card from top to bottom.

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Power Ranking UFC on Fuel 8’s Main Card Fights

UFC on Fuel 8 will be coming to us live from the Land of the Rising Sun. The main card will feature many memorable and exciting fighters who will try to get a win and advance themselves up the ladder of their division. There will be a pair of toug…

UFC on Fuel 8 will be coming to us live from the Land of the Rising Sun. The main card will feature many memorable and exciting fighters who will try to get a win and advance themselves up the ladder of their division.

There will be a pair of tough heavyweights in Mark Hunt and Stefan Struve as well as Brian Stann, Diego Sanchez, Wanderlei Silva and many more.

All of the main card fighters are looking to put on a show and win their fight in impressive fashion. There are six main card bouts announced for this upcoming event.

Without further ado, let’s rank every fight on the main card.

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Should Wanderlei Silva Retire If He Loses to Brian Stann at UFC on Fuel TV 8?

Wanderlei Silva hasn’t strung together a two fight win-streak inside the same calender year since 2005. In his last 10 bouts he’s secured just three victories, and while victories over Michael Bisping and Cung Le make for two of those three…

Wanderlei Silva hasn’t strung together a two fight win-streak inside the same calender year since 2005. In his last 10 bouts he’s secured just three victories, and while victories over Michael Bisping and Cung Le make for two of those three wins, one must call into question Silva’s place in today’s mixed martial arts picture.

“The Axe Murderer” was once considered the greatest 205-pound fighter in the world, steamrolling foes in Pride from 1999 to 2005. In fact, in that stretch Silva dropped only three fights, the same amount he’s won since September of 2006.

Talk about stark career contrast.

Silva went from a man to fear to a man to boost the stock of rising competitors in the span of roughly half a decade. The heavy handed Brazilian was once praised for his vicious punching power, but it’s now Silva who often finds himself waking in the cage, his corner and cage-side physicians huddled in concern.

It is in truth a sad career turn for a man who deserved to exit the sport on a high note. The likelihood of that happening now seems like little more than a pipe dream. Wanderlei Silva simply cannot compete with the truly diverse combatants cluttering the sport today.

When a fighter has been knocked out in four of his last 10 fights, it’s time to begin placing health and safety at the forefront of all priorities. No one wants to see Wanderlei Silva walk away from MMA challenged in the simplest tasks, such as speaking.

Silva will collide with another blossoming talent in Brain Stann come March 3 at UFC on Fuel TV 8. Should he secure victory, and avoid an abundance of damage, it may well prove that Silva’s best days haven’t completely dissipated. However, if Stann—who possesses some frightening finishing capabilities himself—disposes of Silva, particularly in violent fashion, it may finally be time for Dana White to intervene and save Silva from himself.

The man is a living legend, and I like the idea of him living a healthy cognizant lifestyle post-fighting career. The image of Silva drooling over a plate of food he’s struggling to understand, let alone eat, just doesn’t sit well.

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