For the first time in a long time there is serious doubt about whether UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva will win his next fight.
Okay, some people thought Chael Sonnen could do it in their highly anticipated rematch at UFC 148 one year ago, while others felt Vitor Belfort had more than a puncher’s chance at UFC 126.
But you’d have to go back to UFC 82 in March 2008 before Silva’s bout with Pride champion Dan Henderson for a large number of fellow fighters to pick against Silva.
Widely regarded as the greatest mixed martial artist of all-time, Silva will look to improve to 17-0 in his UFC career when he meets No. 1 contender Chris Weidman in the main event of UFC 162 this Saturday in Las Vegas.
Although the betting odds still favour Silva – he is approximately a 3-to-1 favourite at -280 – when you ask professional fighters, it is far from a certainty that Silva will come out of UFC 162 with the belt he has held since October 2006.
UFC Central recently sat down with some of the UFC’s best and the UFC sent out a list of quotes from fighters that gave their thoughts on what will go down at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on July 6.
Who’s siding with the champ?
UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson: “He’s never gave me a reason to doubt him … He trains to be the best Anderson Silva and that’s where my hat’s off to Anderson.”
Former WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis: “I can never go against Anderson Silva.”
Donald Cerrone: “He’s just unstoppable. He’s got all the answers to everyone’s questions.”
Glover Teixeira: “That guy is just another level. I doubted him a couple fights … he does things no fighter can do.”
Patrick Cote: “I don’t think Chris Weidman will be able to get even close to Anderson Silva to wrestle with him. He has a big lack of standup skills to fight Anderson Silva.”
Sara McMann: “Anderson Silva is untouchable to me.”
Yves Jabouin: “Anderson Silva just doing what he does and finishing another fight.
Mike Ricci: “I’m going to have to go with my boy Anderson.”
John Makdessi: “Silva. I’m a fan.”
Who’s siding with the challenger?
No. 1 middleweight contender Chris Weidman: “I definitely think I’m a nightmare matchup for him. … I think once my hands get on him he’s in my world.
UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre: “Not only is he going to beat, I believe he’s going to finish Anderson Silva,” GSP told Sportsnet. “I believe it’s not going to be too long, that fight. People will be shocked.”
Chael Sonnen: “Listen, he has two wins over me, it does me no good at all to bash Anderson publically now that our thing is over. But that’s not what I am doing here.
“I think Anderson is an excellent fighter, an awesome fighter, but he’s just not winning this fight. I think Weidman takes Anderson down at will, I think he blows past Anderson’s guard, and I think he finishes him. … The seven-year reign is over. That’s genuinely what I feel.”
Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar: “I’m friends with Chris, I train alongside him. There’s a lot of hype around him and it’s for good reason. He’s the real deal.”
Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir: “The only way I see Weidman not winning is if he has a macho thing where he has illusions of striking with the best striker in the world. But I think he’s too smart for that. I’m not just saying he’s got a great shot, I am picking Weidman to win.”
Former UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra: “The combination of Chris’s skillset, which is a bad matchup for Anderson on any day, and his mentality to win is going to result in a huge win.”
UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz: “Once he has Anderson down, he can strike very well, and I expect him to pass and force Anderson into a scramble. Anderson usually waits in his guard for a chance to escape or counter, but Chris hits hard enough and is active enough to force Anderson to try to get back up fast. That’s where I see Weidman winning the fight, in the scramble as Anderson tries to get back up.”
Miesha Tate: “Chael Sonnen almost beat Anderson based on being a wrestler. And Weidman is a more dynamic wrestler than Sonnen – and Weidman doesn’t get caught in submissions.”
Kenny Florian: “I think Weidman can and will get this to the ground and, once there, I expect him to be in a huge position to win the fight.”
Michael Bisping: “Anderson Silva is the greatest of all time but, believe me Weidman has a very bad style for him. A nightmare style, really. Weidman will be able to take Anderson down, and do serious damage when he does so.
Daniel Cormier: “I think he has all the skill to beat Anderson Silva. Follow the blueprint, bud. Do what Chael did.”
Gray Maynard: “Chris is my boy. It’s just hard to go up against the Ali of MMA. But there’s got to be a guy that’s going to do that and if anybody can do it it’s Chris.”
Phil Davis. The man’s tough; the man’s a beast. I’ve known him for a very long time; I know the calibre of athlete he is and he’s only getting better. Right now it’s his time to win.
Alan Belcher: “If this hit the floor in the first round, it is going to be insane because Weidman could sub Anderson Silva in the very first round.”
Roger Gracie: “Weidman’s grappling is at a very high level. He has some very good submissions. He can put a lock on anyone – any world class grappler. I think he’s that good that he can tap anyone, including me or Anderson Silva.”
No. 1 flyweight contender John Moraga: “Weidman is taking him out … I think his style is all wrong for Anderson. I can see Weidman dominating, actually.”
Rick Story: “I can see Weidman grinding out a points win by controlling most of the fight on the ground.”
Who’s on the fence?
Women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey: “I think Anderson Silva is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, but Weidman is the absolute worst possible matchup for him. It’ll definitely be interesting and I’m excited to see what happens on the night.”
No. 1 lightweight contender T.J. Grant: “I feel like Chris Weidman has what it takes to beat Anderson, but whenever Anderson gets put up against his biggest tests that’s when he seems to completely shut people down. If there’s going to be an upset by anyone I think it’s going to be Chris Weidman.”
Johny Hendricks: “Chris Weidman, I think he can do it, it’s just that is Anderson gonna stop him from getting to his legs before he gets the chance to get to the legs.”
Former Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold: “This is a 50/50 fight. I’ve not thought that about an Anderson fight in a long time, but this can go either way.”
James Te-Huna: I don’t know. I’m leaning towards Anderson Silva but Chris Weidman is dangerous so anything can happen.
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