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With Anderson Silva eager to begin rehabbing his broken left leg, his management team is already plotting his comeback. Silva's chief advisors, Ed Soares and Jorge Guimaraes, like the idea of him returning against former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre in some sort of super fight.
"Man, if we were able to pull something like that off, it would be a win-win for everybody - the fans, the UFC," Soares told USA Today. "I think that would be awesome."
Silva suffered a broken left tibia and fibula on Dec. 28 in his middleweight title bout with champion Chris Weidman, rushed into emergency surgery soon thereafter. Although Silva's surgeon expects a return to training in six to nine months, Guimaraes says his client is already surpassing expectations.
"He's walking around on crutches and raising his leg, and he's just getting ready to start physical therapy when the doctor allows him," Guimaraes said. "He's already moving his toes. I feel that positive vibe on him, and that's what makes me believe he's going to come back even stronger."
Silva's name had been floated in super fight discussions for years, sandwiched between the dominant forces of St-Pierre and light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. With St-Pierre taking a leave from the sport and an uncertain road ahead for Silva, the fight seems to have lost quite a bit of luster. Does it make sense as a return fight for each of them? Or do we need to see a strong return to form before making a super fight, super?
5 MUST-READ STORIES
No surgery. Matt Brown will avoid undergoing an operation to repair two torn discs in his lower back.
Odds are out. Urijah Faber opens as a huge underdog to Renan Barao at UFC 169.
Big boys. Coached by Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva, Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3 will feature middleweights and heavyweights.
Fire sale. The UFC has dramatically discounted ticket prices for UFC 170: Rousey vs. McMann.
It was Serra. Matt Serra comes clean on being the perpetrator of the infamous 'good, f--- him' comment captured on audio at UFC 168.
MEDIA STEW
I almost feel guilty posting these. Brittney Palmer something something.
Update on the Joseph Torrez home invasion case. Torrez may also face charges.
Stone Cold Steve Austin and Dave Meltzer talk Cain Velasquez.
Phil Baroni on Ben Askren, Silva's injury, fighting future and more.
Rolles & Daniel Gracie vs Kazushi Sakuraba & Yuji Nagata in a tag team pro wrestling match.
Still holds up.
Great mini doc on Jiu Jitsu featuring some of its biggest players.
Long watches.
Matt Brown started a podcast. He says he thinks female fighters should compete topless (33:00) and that they don't have KO power (43:00).
TWEETS
A wild GSP appears.
After a great training session in NYC! Happy New Year!!! pic.twitter.com/XtOSlQsdRx
— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) January 7, 2014
Congrats.
;-D!!! RT @ArcibalJJ: Congrats to @BensonHenderson !!! #BJJ #UFC #MMA #WishingYouAllTheBest pic.twitter.com/e11KpRvQsd
— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) January 7, 2014
This week in MensFitness UK magazine 🇬🇧 http://t.co/GEdegK0zUc
— Ross Pearson (@RossTheRealDeal) January 7, 2014
Get well soon.
Rehab is going well for @johndodsonmma except he keeps licking his knee... pic.twitter.com/tE7LmIHsxu
— Jackson's MMA (@JacksonsMMA) January 7, 2014
Thumb injury update: Torn ulnar collateral ligament. Surgery is Thursday. 6-8 week recover 😡 looks like I'll be training with one hand. 👎
— Cody Donovan (@donnybrookcody) January 7, 2014
Got my MRI results today looks good just a bruised knee :) I'll be good to train next week :) luv u all and thanks for the support 🙏 @ufc
— Manny Gamburyan (@MannyGamburyan) January 7, 2014
Much needed spa day! Hair, nails, latte, foot reflexology, the works! Feels so good to get my girl on! @anudosalon pic.twitter.com/CLnpaH5S8B
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) January 7, 2014
That time again.
Hey guys voting for maxim's hot 100 of 2014 just opened - If you're down to take a minute to vote for... http://t.co/4n1R5IZ9VN
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) January 7, 2014
Voting has begun for the @MaximMag hot 100! If you would take a moment and bit for me I'd so appreciate it! http://t.co/Qyli4taaCG
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) January 8, 2014
That was pretty quick.
.@Bharper3407 trains like a champ in the offseason. Look forward to seeing you hit a HR w/ the belt on, Bryce! @MLB pic.twitter.com/JL8gMVe0px
— UFC (@ufc) January 7, 2014
Miesha Tate unleashes the hounds.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Jan. 7 2014)
Takenori Sato vs. Erick Silva at UFC Fight Night 36
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day comes via watercoolermma.com.
As 2013 comes to a close and 2014 begins, fight fans are left with one central question. Who will become the new face of the UFC? With the two most dominant champions and biggest pay-per-view draws in the history of the sport both out for the foreseeable future, a new star must rise to the top. But who? The most logical place to start our search is with the current champions.
As much as I wish this wasn't the case, any fighter below 155lbs is at a serious disadvantage. For whatever reason, despite how much respect they garner from hardcore fans, the general population often fails to fully get behind the little guys. For example, Jose Aldo has proven to be every bit as dominant and exciting in his respective weight class as any other modern day champion, yet despite getting recognition on the pound-for-pound rankings, his appeal seems to go largely unnoticed by the masses. Unfortunate? Unfair? Yes and yes. But that doesn't change the fact that positioning Aldo as the face of the promotion is unlikely.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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