Anderson Silva May Move Up To Light Heavyweight, Fight Liddell At UFC 88
UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva (20-4) and the UFC have reportedly held discussions on Silva moving up to the 205-pound light heavyweight division and making his debut at the new weight at UFC 88 on September 6th in Atlanta.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer reported the news late yesterday on the heels of UFC President Dana White’s announcement that former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell would headline the fall event.
Here’s a snip from the report:
They hadn’t decided [Chuck Liddell's UFC 88 opponent] as of the weekend but Mauricio Shogun Rua wasn’t to be available until December they thought so he was out. They’ll probably make the call after this weekend’s show. He promised an announcement that will blow people’s minds on Thursday. Don’t necessarily read anything into this as being the announcement, but I do know that they have talked with Anderson Silva about being on the card and fighting at light heavy and he wasn’t opposed to it, but there was nothing agreed to as of last week. He said he’s renting out a place on Thursday to tell his employees so in theory this had better be bigger than that.
Silva debuted in the UFC in mid-2006, defeating Chris Leben via first round knockout at UFC Fight Night 5. The sub-one minute win earned “The Spider” a title shot against champion Rich Franklin and Silva capitalized, claiming the 185-pound title with a dominant first-round TKO victory. After defeating Travis Lutter in a non-title fight after Lutter failed to make weight, Silva has defended his title three times, defeating Nate Marquardt, Franklin, and, most-recent, Dan Henderson at UFC 82 in March. Following his win over Henderson, Silva campaigned for a boxing match against former champion Roy Jones Jr. but White has stated that he would not let such a bout take place.
He remains unbeaten in the UFC, winning all six of his bouts in two rounds or less.
There is speculation that Silva’s move to light heavyweight could be to fight Chuck Liddell in the main event of UFC 88, though nothing has yet been confirmed regarding the potential main event matchup.
Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com for more UFC news and UFC rumors.
Tags: Anderson Silva, Chuck Liddell
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That would be an interesting fight Silva vs Liddell… That fight could really go either way, I hope it happens!
Ass whoopin’ waitin’ to happen. Silva is in his prime and way too fast for Chuck. I do not think Chuck stands a chance. If this is true I would love to see it and have Chuck pull off a KO win but don’t see that happening.
Now that is a bombshell!
What does Chuck gain from this? He has everything to lose here.
This would be a great fight to see, but like JustJoe said, Is it really fair to Liddell?
Surely Silva will get an Evans or someone of that “quality”.
What about Liddell vs Franklin ?
I think Silva vs. GSP would be a much better fight.
Hell ya !!!
It’s not the best fight for Chuck but it’s better than watching Silva roll another middleweight.
STAND UP WAR!!!! This would be a match up between argueably the two best strikers in all of MMA! I think They match up very well against each other. It would easily be Silva’s toughest match as this is the one person that can match him in size (actually Chuck’s bigger), reach (Silva’s had a nice reach advantage on everyone he’s faced), punching powers and striking skills (both hands and feet). The difference might be that Silva is still a little faster and his needs are a big facter in his fights. Although Liddell showed in the Vanderlei fight that he has some good take downs if/when needed and this might a good thing to do against Andersen. This would be a HUGE fight for the UFC, but really what does Silva have to gain from a fight like this though. Liddell and the UFC are both in “win-win” situations here in my opinion. I like both fighters, but I The Spider more and I would hope that he could come out with a devasting KO victory of the Iceman!
Yeah, the thing is that Chuck has fought many BJJ guys and dominated them. Chuck is a master of escaping the clinch and escaping takedowns. This match would come down to who has the better striking. We all know that Anderson Silva would be quicker, but definently not more powerful. I think Chuck would knock him out pretty easily. I hope this match does happen and Silva realizes that he is human. I know they say that Silva is a respectable fighter, but the only fighter I have seen him show respect to is Rich Franklin. Chuck would KO him and get his respect. Hope this fight happens.
i hope this fight happens, chuck would kill silva first round knock out, silva wouldn’t no what hit him, chuck would be to strong for him in the clinch and we all no wat chuck’s takedown defence is like, so that would mean a stand up fight an chuck would have the upper hand in that silva would crumble like a spider getting washed down the sink.
JohnBoy,
You are out of your mind. Silva’s speed is superior to Chuck. Chuck may be strong in the clinch but that doesn’t mean he can avoid Silva’s knees and kicks. Furthermore, if the fight went to the ground from the clinch, Silva would dominate on the ground. Silva proved his ground game against Henderson just enough to prove he is p4p the most badass dude on the planet. I like Chuck but he is no longer in his prime and taking this match is asking for another Chuck Liddell loss. Silva is too much for Chuck now but in both of their primes this woould be a historical match up. Still could be a historical match up but I think Anderson could dominate the LHW division too.
go spider go!!! this is a good fight a challenge finally for silva…but who knows dana runs it so okama could get his title shot before hand
If this fight does happen i am going to **** everywhere
If this ” BIG Announcement ” is gonna be a fight, it would have to be something like Liddell vs Silva or a fight with Couture involved.
But then again, why would Dana rent out a place to tell his employees ?? must be something that involves them directly as a company …………
I thinks its gonna be a tv deal . i just dont see him renting out a place to anounce a fight. So I would say its a TV deal
thats great now Silva can dominate 205 too, next thing you know he’ll go to 170 have a war with GSP.
The news on thursday is that they’re signing floyd mayweather jr. He just resigned yesterday.
Silva moving up to fight anyone sounds good, but it would be great to see Silva vs GSP first to see if GSP is as good as we (I) think he is.
Then silva can move up to get his ass handed to him, come on Silva vs Rampage talk about a pitbull with a poodle in its mouth no matter how good Silva or his fans think he is wake up!!
And as for Silva vs Roy jones Dana White would never let it happen unless under a ufc contract and Roy jones would not agree to that he is a professional boxer not a retard first Dana would never pay his fighter a pro boxer salary and he would not want his fighters to see that it is posible and Roy jones would not take a ufc salary that would be like working for 4 cents an hour
Everyone knows that Liddell is the by far the biggest name in UFC and in MMA for that matter, but how much since does it make to move A.Silva up an not have him fight for the title. At this point, being that he is the P4P and UFC MW Champ, if he moves up, he deserves at shot at Rampage and the LW Title. If they want Chuck to fight Silva, then Chuck should move down to 185. I understand it if they put it together, I just don’t see how it’s fair to The Spider!
what is wrong with dana white? everyone has been talking for months about a possibe GSP VS. SILVA fight they are about the same size, both great fighters and both champions. its a much better senerio. cause chuck has alot to lose here, if he loses. a chance at the title is what he really wants, but chuck always said he will fight anybody they put in front of him and he is not scared. but still if they fight i will be watching cause its 2 of the greatest fighters in mma going at it.
Holy moly! Anderson Silva at LHW.
Silva at LHW would be interesting. I’d be interested to see how much speed and strength he loses by fighting at that weight. Dont know that he’d be the same Anderson Silva. Anyone know what weight he walks around at?
“Anyone know what weight he walks around at?”
215
I Just read on MMARATED.com that Dana says the Mayweather story is not true!
I originally made the post after reading on Fightline.com that Mayweather had signed the deal with UFC.
I would love to see Silva as a lightheavy weight.. but there is alot of talent in that division already …
from a sherdog post
group of investors led by Dana White have agreed in principle to purchase the UFC from Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta for an undisclosed amount. Included in this investment group is WWE’s Vince McMahon who will now own a minority stake in the company. They also have plans on taking the company public by years end.
At the press conference also expect Dana to announce that with the help of McMahon, who has extensive connections in the New York State Athletic Commission, they were able to get the UFC sanctioned in New York, and plan on having a show sometime in the winter at Madison Square Garden. That is all I have right now.
The announcement is they signed the greatest heavyweight ever! Kimbo is coming to UFC! Holla!
Liddell vs Silva would be awsome but personally, id like to see Anderson Silva vs Wanderlei Silva. Now THAT would be interesting.
(wanderlei has great muay thai too, and he is powerful as hell, and speed has never been a detriment of his either)
5 Big Fights for Anderson Silva at the moment,
are : 1. Silva Vs. Liddell, Knock out power for both guys / Most likely not to go to the ground unless one guys hurt / great timing by both / quickness to Silva, power to Liddell , Silva has a better chin tho , so I’d say 2 out of 3 times Silva wins here
2. Silva Vs. Wanderlei, former training partners , great muay thai for both , but Silva have the reach and great timing, Wanderlei throw hard but wild sometimes, so 9 out of 10 times Silva wins here
3. My personal favorite match up for Silva.
Silva Vs. Machida, Both have amazing timing Silva when he is fired up is aggressive striker , Machida is the Best counter striker in the ufc. What this comes down to is can Silva find a house for that knee and the answer is Yes,
so 7 out of 10 times Silva wins
4. Rampage Vs. Silva if its stand up Jackson like Silva will take a punch to give one both with great chins, but the key is does Silva submit Rampage after the takedown maybe, so Silva wins this fight 5/10 times
5. The One Fight Everyone is talking about Silva Vs. GSP, Stand up is kind of even but Silvas knees and chin, but GSP has great ground game which is where he’ll take it but Silva has 2 things working for him has bjj and his flying knee on the takedown GSP if he doesn’t finish Silva when he has him there, if not Silva only needs one knee, so Silva wins this 7 out of 10 times
i dont understand ur scoreing points here he’ll beat chuck 2/3 beat rampage 7/10???? maybe its an american thing?
The match I’d like to see is Anderson Silva vs. Lyoto Machida (who walked through Tito Ortiz, although he gave Forrest Griffin and Rashad Evans trouble).
I think Chuck Liddell is a bad match up for Anderson Silva. I don’t see Anderson Silva submitting Chuck, and Chuck would power out of Silva’s clinch. Chuck would force A. Silva into a stand up brawl and I think Chuck would win. Love both fighters, but I have to give Chuck the nod in this fight.
chuck liddell will beat anderson silva dude.
chuck liddell will tie rashad I think.