A little over a week after UFC president Dana White said he was "embarrassed" by Anderson Silva's performance against Thales Leites at UFC 97 in Montreal, the current middleweight champion has been booked in an exciting light heavyweight fight against Forrest Griffin at UFC 101 in August, according to Yahoo! Sports."Forrest loved the idea and said he'd do it right away, and Anderson told me he would fight anyone I wanted him to fight, no matter who it is," White told Yahoo! Sports' Kevin Iole. "So we got the deal."
Griffin was originally scheduled to face Thiago Silva on August 8 in Philadelphia. However, after a second straight lackluster middleweight title defense by "The Spider," it was clear that his next fight would have to be against a high-profile light heavyweight fighter. Forrest Griffin, a former 205-pound champion and one of two original winners of The Ultimate Fighter reality show, certainly fits that bill.
"I talked to (a reporter) the day after (UFC 97) and that's when I started working on this," White told Iole. "At the end of the day, it's my job to put on the kinds of fights that you in the media will like and that the fans will want to see. Silva and Griffin is the kind of fight that even other fighters are going to go crazy for. That's what I do for a living.
"I as a fan didn't like what I saw (at UFC 97) and I wasn't kidding when I said I wanted to walk out of the building because of how embarrassed I am. But I can tell you this: I'm going to be counting the days until this fight."
No word just yet on if Thiago Silva will be booked against someone else at UFC 101. The event is headlined by a UFC lightweight title match between champion BJ Penn and Kenny Florian.
"If (Anderson Silva) needs to challenge himself," White told the ESPN Radio 1100 post-fight show crew following UFC 97, "we've got a division right above that can be very challenging."
Consider Silva officially challenged.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Forest will not let this be a boring fight. He might lose, but he won't bore.
This is a good match up for fight fans. Forrest is going to take the fight right where Silva gets un-comfortable - inside. Silva doesn't like someone pressuring him. Add to that he's going to be fighting in a division that has fighters his own size. Silva is going to loose his significant reach advantage, and I think forrest is going to take away one of Silva's best weapons - his positioning. Forrest putting pressure on Silva is going to nulify Silva's footwork, which Silva doesn't get near enough credit for, and take that advantage away. I like Forrest's chances and wouldn't be surprised if he win's this.
I guess anything is possible. I do think this fight will be exciting for the fans but I fear it won't go past the first round. Griffin is notorious for having a "glass jaw" and makes enough mistakes to get himself in trouble. This is even more magnified against a counter puncher with KO power in both hands and feet like Anderson Silva. To be honest I would be pretty shocked if Griffin wins the fight.
With all of that said I also have to admit that Griffin has this unique attribute that allows him to win against seemingly superior opponents (Shogun & Rampage most recently). All of his career losses have come against true MMA legends including Ortiz, Jardine, Evans, Horn & Severn. When you combine his skills with his courage and heart anything can happen.
I don't think Griffin will win the fight but I agree with you that I wouldn't be terribly surprised if he manages to pull it out.
sweet, dana should have made this happen months ago
The longer we wait, the better it is. He could've put Rampage in there and it would be just as exciting. The UFC roster runs deep with great match ups...
Rumor has it that Anderson Silva has another 4 or so fights on his UFC contract and then he plans to retire. So, it makes sense that his last contracted fights will all be more marketable than his two most recent outings.
I think it will play out like this for Anderson Silva in the UFC.
4. Fights Forrest Griffin
3. Fights winner of Henderson - Bisping or Nate Marquardt for middleweight title.
2. Fights for Light Heavyweight title (winner of rampage title defense after the machida-evans fight)
1. Fights GSP at a catchweight between Welter weight and Middle weight.
Numbers 1 & 2 could easily flip flop in terms of order and this is all assuming that Anderson Silva beats Forrest Griffin. Anderson Silva has also said that he wants to fight Fedor & Wanderlei Silva before he retires. I do think we will eventually see Fedor in the UFC but he won't fight for the HW title b/c Zuffa doesn't want Fedor to walk through their paper champions and not control his status long term. It's conceivable in that train of thought that Anderson could fight Wanderlei if they both win their next fights against Griffin & Franklin, respectively.
To Long Didn't Read Version:
The rest of the fights on Anderson's contract will all be against big time fighters.
Or at least fighters in his natural weight class, and of the push the pace variety. This is it. This is what we've been waiting for. Whoever thinks Griffin has a glass jaw...well....that's kind of sad, considering he's had a host of solid fights, and has been knocked out -wait for it- all of THREE times, in what, 21 high profile matches? Not saying he'll win, but if Dana had to pick one of the toughest LHW players outside of Jackson? Its definitely Griffin.
Silva has his work cut out for him. Can't wait to see this fight :)
Is anyone more game than Forrest Griffin?
I think Forrest can win this fight. He's a big guy with good footwork and deceptively fast hands.
Could Silva win by early KO? Yes, but I don't agree with the "Forrest has a glass jaw" comment that was made by johnny5.
forrest has a glass jaw? how many other fighters have you seen take an uppercut from rampage and still be awake. that statement is rediculous. forrest has really evolved and should give a good fight. it is about time silva starts to fight on his own level . he should fight light heavy with guys his own size
Forrest doesn't have the worst jaw, but Silva will be very capable of knocking him out (whenever he feels like it anyway). Either way, Forrest is the type of guy you can't count out in his fights. I too will definitely be looking forward to this fight.
okay for someone to say forrest has a glass jaw its just wow.he stood 5 rounds in a war with rampage a fighter who clearl knocks the heads off of many oppenets.and i honestly do belive forrest will take the fight to silva and thats where he will shine and stuff silva.my picks are for forrest griffin
well you do remember that rampage was fasting right. and he dropped like 50 pounds to be make weight. grant it, it was his fault but rampage was clearly not himself that fight.
This will be a great fight. Once again White proves that he wants to give the fans the best fights to watch..This is the type of fight that will bring the best out of Silva and we know Forrest will be ready to fight and put on a great show. Thank you Dana! Keep up the great work.
this fight should be a damn good one. and we can finally see if "the spider" is the true p4p king. even though its clearly Fedor.
Claytor is another idiot on here. Dude there is no "natural" weight class in pro mma!You will cut weight (10 or more pounds) to fight in the right weight class. Once you get your facts straight maybe then ull be not be considered ignorant in mma knowledge!
This fight will be excellent. It's about time Silva fights a real opponent, the 185lb division in the UFC is pathetic, so I'm glad to see him step-up. I would love to see Silva fight Fedor, and show just how dominant Fedor is. Fedor could easily fight at 205lb, he just doesn't have to. Silva fights at 185lb because he has to, I would love to see Fedor destroy Silva and bring Silva's ego back to Earth. He wants to box Roy Jones Jr, are you serious? Roy Jones Jr might be old and out of his prime, but that fight would look like the Pacquiao/Hatton fight, a paper-champion with a huge ego getting sent to the hospital before the fight even begins. Come back to Earth Silva, don't forget you've lost to fighters half your size.