Anderson Silva Fighting At Light-Heavyweight

Fozzy

http://www.f4wonline.com/content/view/5704/105/

White announces two main events for head-to-head show against Affliction

By Dave Meltzer

Show will be July 19 on Spike TV from The Palms in Las Vegas:

Anderson Silva (debut as a light heavyweight) vs. James Irvin

Hermes Franca vs. Frankie Edgar

Silva will not vacate the middleweight title, and if all goes well, will fight in both weight classes.

Sounds good. Anderson should win handily

goo

I was assuming that if Andy moved to 205 it'd be for an immediate title shot. That way if he won he could drop the 185 belt and if he didn't he'd just go back down. The idea that the MW belt's going to be on hold while Anderson fights as a regular contender at LHW is a bit weird, but I suppose its better than wasting him in fights against people he's beaten already or that in another weight division wouldn't deserve a shot...

Brandon Vera to debut at Light Heavyweight on this card also.

kinda disappointed that the UFC have done it on this date, I know its good business smarts but they really do come accross with this and the whole Randy thing as the playgropund bully who want to control everything.


Having said that, Ill watch both as a happy fan!

Here's the full card so far.


Main event:

UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva (21-4) vs. James Irvin (14-4) (Note that this is non-title light heavyweight bout)

Under card:

205 lbs.: Brandon Vera (8-2) vs. Reese Andy (7-1)*
155 lbs.: Frank Edgar (8-1) vs. Hermes Franca (18-6)
265 lbs.: Cain Velasquez (3-0) vs. Jake O’Brien (10-1)*
170 lbs.: Anthony Johnson (5-1) vs. Kevin Burns (6-1)*

dunkamania

Apparently Anderson will fight on the September show as well

Dragan

Moving Anderson up to 205 is obviously a big to keep him happy.

Having him fight James Irvin is pointless in my opinion. Two things happen

1) Anderson wipes the floor with Irvin in his usual stylish way....hurray, a very good champ didn't cut and beat the crap out of a guy who wasn't even in ( and most likely never will be ) in contention for the weightclasses title.

2) Irvin sparks him. Anderson the legend dies.

Dragan

Dragan wrote: »

Moving Anderson up to 205 is obviously a big to keep him happy.

Having him fight James Irvin is pointless in my opinion. Two things happen

1) Anderson wipes the floor with Irvin in his usual stylish way....hurray, a very good champ didn't cut and beat the crap out of a guy who wasn't even in ( and most likely never will be ) in contention for the weightclasses title.

2) Irvin sparks him. Anderson the legend dies.

Its a tune up fight to see how he handles 205.

Don't see Anderson losing this one seeing as Irvin is also a striker. Anderson would have more problems against a strong wrestler/subs guy at 205. Right now, there arent that many of them.

Dragan

Deleted User wrote: »

Its a tune up fight to see how he handles 205.

Don't see Anderson losing this one seeing as Irvin is also a striker. Anderson would have more problems against a strong wrestler/subs guy at 205. Right now, there arent that many of them.

Oh i'm not saying it will happen, just saying that in the happy world of Gonzaga's ANYTHING can happen.

Dragan

Dragan wrote: »

Oh i'm not saying it will happen, just saying that in the happy world of Gonzaga's ANYTHING can happen.

In a world of serras I know but Id bet a large chunk of change on "the little guy"!!

Seeing as the lack of Randy Couture/Tito Ortiz style fighters at 205lbs I think 205 is a good division for Anderson.

dunkamania

I agree that its a tune up fight, with the prospect of a second 205 fight very soon after, unless James Irwin upsets the party. Slightly nervous, when is the last time Andersons chin was properly tested? Also if he wins, does he relinquish his MW title?

Fozzy

The plan is for him to continue to defend his belt and fight at 205 if he wins. Maybe he'll still give 205 another go if he loses too, but he's not vacating his title

dunkamania

dunkamania wrote: »

I agree that its a tune up fight, with the prospect of a second 205 fight very soon after, unless James Irwin upsets the party. Slightly nervous, when is the last time Andersons chin was properly tested? Also if he wins, does he relinquish his MW title?

Rich Franklin hit him and he didnt seem at all bothered. It comes down to whether Irvin can actually hit him...... I doubt it. Irvins chin has been succeptible to KO's in the past so my money is firmly on the Spider. Irvins a Leben type brawler while Anderson is a technical wizard....

Fozzy

Fozzy wrote: »

The plan is for him to continue to defend his belt and fight at 205 if he wins. Maybe he'll still give 205 another go if he loses too, but he's not vacating his title

Exactly. Theres nobody really bar Okami for him at 185 right now so in the interests of keeping him active it makes sense. He waslk round at 98kg (215lbs) and he's said already he cant make 170 anymore...

Another source for the Vera fight.

Nothingcompares

the ufc could do better and recruit more challenging opponents for silva from other organisations. I think Thales Leites deserves a shot first though

goo

Nothingcompares wrote: »

the ufc could do better and recruit more challenging opponents for silva from other organisations. I think Thales Leites deserves a shot first though

Okami deserves a shot, but its not about who's earned it. The UFC can make incredible fights with Anderson at 205 rather than set him up to fight a) undeserving people who are in some way popular/sellable or b) deserving fighters who aren't popular that would be a financial deficit to the company if they actually won the belt.

THawk

i dunno, i think its a great move for everyone. Makes the light heavyweight divison even more stacked, and could potentially open the 185 belt for a Franklin vs Henderson interim title superfight!?

Before this news broke, the middleweight division was outclassed by a great champion. With this, you'd have the title fight mentioned above and still have okami, bisping, leites, marquart, quarry etc in a no longer cut 'n dried division.

That all depends on Anderson vacating the MW belt though..