UFC starts off 2010 with a bang: Belfort versus Silva

[ni$mo350]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cag...urn=mma,192224


Damn! Even a Belfort fight leaves Silva looking bored!

Bone spurs be damned, the UFC is looking for Anderson Silva to be ready for its first card in 2010. UFC president Dana White told Lance Pugmire of the L.A. Times that Silva will defend his UFC middleweight title belt against Vitor Belfort on Jan. 2 at UFC 108 in Las Vegas. There's been a little back and forth between the UFC and the Silva on whether he was getting bone spurs removed from his elbow. White would like to see him get it done as soon as possible, while Silva and his manager Ed Soares appear to be dragging their feet on a decision.

The timing of the White announcement is interesting considering the fact that middleweight contender Dan Henderson was in Las Vegas this week working on his next contract. A sticking point in the deal was thought to be when Hendo would get his shot at a Silva rematch. Now rumors are flying that Henderson will face Nate Marquardt on this same card in a title eliminator.

Henderson was under the impression that his fight against Michael Bisping at UFC 100 was a title eliminator. Henderson crushed Bisping with a devastating knockout. All summer he's been saying that the only fight he wants is that match against Silva. Two weeks ago, Belfort returned to the UFC after a near five years layoff, and beat former middleweight champ Rich Franklin in less than four minutes. Both Henderson and Marquardt lost title shots against Silva. It's clear the promotion wants a fresh face to step in there against "The Spider."

With Quinton Jackson's hissy fit/retirement, rumors are also swirling that Rashad Evans, who was supposed to fight Rampage on Dec. 12, may now fight Thiago Silva at UFC 108.

[ppw350Zunit]

first shogun will beat machida then vitor will defeat silva. 2 new brazilian champs!!!

[tig488]

no on your first call, yes to your second, ppw350zunit.

[Jay'Z]

No on shogun = +2, Belfort will murder Silva... I hope Silva's management dont ***** out of this... I wanna see him lose...

[Leman'sSunset03]

Shogun will be a cakewalk for Machida. And I think the "phenom" will do well against Silva but hardly murder him, I don't think anyone in his division could do that.
It's gonna be great to finally see someone give Silva a challenge. You gotta wonder if he'll do his little dance with his arms down in this matchup..

[freedonutss]

Originally Posted by ppw350Zunit

first shogun will beat machida then vitor will defeat silva. 2 new brazilian champs!!!

machida is half brazilian.

[Jay'Z]

I bet a set of spark plugs NGK 1 step colder!! Belfort will murder him.... 1st round..

[Leman'sSunset03]

Originally Posted by Jay'Z

I bet a set of spark plugs NGK 1 step colder!! Belfort will murder him.... 1st round..

LOL...I'm good on plugs but I still don't see that happening. Don't get me wrong, I think Belfort has the best chance of anyone so far but Silva is a machine. I do think he has a good chance of knocking him out but it won't be a walk in the park by any means. Can't wait to see this fight..

[Jay'Z]

Originally Posted by Leman'sSunset03

LOL...I'm good on plugs but I still don't see that happening. Don't get me wrong, I think Belfort has the best chance of anyone so far but Silva is a machine. I do think he has a good chance of knocking him out but it won't be a walk in the park by any means. Can't wait to see this fight..

We will see......

[DaProdigy]

I see both champs defending their belts successfully

[Jay'Z]

Originally Posted by DaProdigy

I see both champs defending their belts successfully

You are blind, Sir!

[PepitoLives09]

Originally Posted by Jay'Z

You are blind, Sir!

Vitor hasn't beat ANYONE with even close to the striking ability of Anderson Silva... who has Vitor beaten that is really of note? Wandi a DECADE ago? Matt Lindland? A cut stoppage against Randy Couture? Tank Abbott?? Yeah he has 13 tkos on his record... but beating up guys like Terry Martin and Antony "Wild Thing" Rea (career record of 16-13) on little league cards for second rate promotions doesn't lead me to believe he will roll over Silva...

He does have two TKO losses to Randy Couture on his record... and I know for a fact that Couture's hands are no where near as good as Silva's...

Vitor beat an OLD Matt Lindland and a Rich Franklin who hasn't been the same fighter since the first Anderson Silva fight... and you think he will roll over Silva... that's pure comic gold right there, sir...

Should be an interesting match up as Vitor is one of the few that can even come close to matching Silva's speed... but that's about all he can match... Even though he started fighting in 1996, I believe Anderson Silva has more big time fight experience... 6-0 in Middleweight title defenses...

Silva only has two legit losses on his record and has DOMINATED almost all of his opponents, most would call them more victims than opponents. He even dominated Okami, had that been in Japan he would have 26 wins... if you haven't seen that video maybe you should watch it... Silva koed Okami with a kick while Okami was in his guard.... And he was battering Chonan before he threw that insane flying leg scissors to heel hook...

I understand if you don't like Silva... but come on, wake up and look at the facts... Vitor will just be another in the ko line... but hey at least it will be a fun fight to watch...

[Alberto]

Unfair to Hendo but I can understand the UFC wanting a new face to be smashed by Silva.

I'd love to see Silva drop his hands and get flurried, but I dont see him taking this lightly or losing.

[ct350z]

Originally Posted by ppw350Zunit

first shogun will beat machida then vitor will defeat silva. 2 new brazilian champs!!!

i highly doubt that.

[Mikey-Z]

It's not official, but signs are still pointing to an Anderson Silva-Vitor Belfort title bout for Jan. 2. And if it transpires, Wanderlei Silva doesn't think it will be too enjoyable an evening for Belfort.

"Destroy" was his verb of choice when speaking to Sherdog's Marcelo Alonso about his onetime opponent's chances against Anderson.

"I think it's a very interesting fight," Wanderlei said. "Belfort has good boxing skills and is a good athlete, but everybody knows that he has a weak psychological aspect and I think he will shake when he gets in the Octagon with [Silva]."

Despite looking unshaken in recent bouts with Terry Martin, Matt Lindland and Rich Franklin, Belfort's past history with being a psychological mess continues to haunt him. (To be fair, none of those men got all that adversarial with Belfort -- and resistance was often all he needed to begin shrinking in the ring.)

Wanderlei also commented on the potential for a rematch with Belfort, which seems like a no-brainer for 2010. It could be the first instance of a fight sequel taking place 12 years after the original. Hopefully, it'll work out better than the film series that take their sweet time. (Have you seen "The X-Files: I Want to Believe"? No? OK. Don't.)

Wandy says AS will "destroy" Vitor.

I'm skeptical about Vitor too. I think he'd lose to Marquardt... he'd definitely lose again to Hendo (again). Probably wouldn't be surprised to see him lose to Okami. IMO he's almost better off fighting Rashad Evans, Jardine, Forest, Shogun, Chuck (rematch) at 205.

But with The Spider? Styles Make Fights. I think he's got a shot...

[FastBrickZ]

Vitor is gonna give Anderson Silva the punch flurry from hell and put him to sleep.'NUFF SAID

[Mikey-Z]

“Vitor has not fought in the UFC at 185 pounds,” Soares said. “Now, I know people can say Anderson fought for the belt after one fight, and that’s true, but he fought at 185 pounds. At 195 pounds, he [Belfort] didn’t make weight, at first. So he couldn’t make weight at 195 pounds, but now he’s going to fight for the title at 185 pounds?”

...

Soares maintains the winner of a Nate Marquardt/Dan Henderson fight deserves the honor, but there’s little reason why Silva can’t occupy himself with Belfort while those two pummel each other. Better, a Belfort bout is going to be an easier sell -- which could mean more money if Silva has a revenue share -- than a rematch against a guy he previously obliterated.

Hmm interesting comments from A.Silva's manager... especially considering it's his fighter who fought ONE TUF'er en route to the title. At least Vitor had to face a prev. champion and the best divisional gatekeeper in MMA to get his title shot.

[MechakFU]

Originally Posted by Mikey-Z

Hmm interesting comments from A.Silva's manager... especially considering it's his fighter who fought ONE TUF'er en route to the title. At least Vitor had to face a prev. champion and the best divisional gatekeeper in MMA to get his title shot.

I know what you are saying, but since then AS has raped everyone and especially his last fight at a higher weight class. So its prob the fact that AS has shown people what he can do in the UFC and the manager just has confidence in his fighter.

[AllStock]

Originally Posted by ppw350Zunit

first shogun will beat machida then vitor will defeat silva. 2 new brazilian champs!!!

silva is barzillian.

also silva will not lose, especially not to belfort. belfort is aggressive, and that's silva's favorite type of fighter to murder. he will pick him apart with everys wing and then end him.

[AllStock]

lmao at you fools thinking vitor is gonna punch flurry KO silva. the second a combination of punches is thrown he's going to get countered and knocked out. Plain and simple.