Anderson Silva wants to eat his way to Heavyweight

JNB · 08-21-2009, 05:41 PM

Silva Wants to Eat Way to Heavyweight Contention

Quote:

You’re the best “pound for pound” fighter in the world, whatever that means. You make excellent fighters look like skipping school girls. And you’re getting bored.

If that describes you, you might well be Anderson Silva, famed sculptor of noses. And if you are, manager Ed Soares and the UFC have got a deal for you: according to SportsIllustrated.com’s Josh Gross, the two have been conspiring to get Silva going in the heavyweight division, with an eye on Frank Mir as a possible first opponent.

If you’ve read the latest issue of Real Fighter, a magazine I see to print, you’ll note that author David Samuels’ excellent cover piece on Silva includes a glimpse of his Friday pre-fight meal. Not a spoiler, but both McDonald’s and Mars, Incorporated are involved. The guy clearly likes to eat. Whether that translates into success in a division full of men who spill over the 265 lb. weight limit is open to deliberation.

Smaller heavies like Randy Couture or division-straddling Brandon Vera? Could see it. Trying to get out from underneath Brock Lesnar as he suffocates you with one giant pectoral muscle? Not quite as compelling.

This is all vaporware at the moment: I would expect plans to change significantly if Mauricio “Shogun” Rua happens to defeat Silva’s friend Lyoto Machida on October 24. Being great in one division doesn’t necessarily trump 20-50 lbs. of mass. Ask B.J. Penn about that.

Does anyone else think that his skills won't be as sharp at HW?

**HawaiianPride.** · 08-21-2009, 06:27 PM

No clue honestly. Time will tell though!

**Julio** · 08-21-2009, 06:46 PM

i think he walks around 220.

**Medic08** · 08-21-2009, 07:09 PM

He has the skills to be good at HW. I mean look what Brandon Vera did for a while, and he's a damn Bean pole.... A.S. would be the crap out of Vera

**islander** · 08-21-2009, 10:23 PM

Taking about heavy weights anyone remember the old BJ vs Machida fight they were looking plumpyyy!

Silva ya I think he could handle the weight, who is he thinking of going for?

**Medic08** · 08-21-2009, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by islander

Taking about heavy weights anyone remember the old BJ vs Machida fight they were looking plumpyyy!

Silva ya I think he could handle the weight, who is he thinking of going for?

If you read the interview it says Frank Mir

LOL J/K

**islander** · 08-22-2009, 02:13 AM

hahaha **** I hate it when people do that too! I usually do read the article before commenting but I was trying to get my ass to go to the gym. I saw the thread title so I just took a quick glimpse. So Mir eh hmm ya that would be a good fight but still think Sliva would take him. Lesner killed him. Depends how much weight will be muslce weight that Anderson gains. Mir could ground and pound him he seem like he is so much stronger. It would take awhile for Anderson to get in the right shape. Now Silva/Machida would be a good fight.

**Julio** · 08-22-2009, 02:30 AM

i don't know about silva vs machida. they not going to go full force on each other, and they have that martial arts brotherhood code between each other i think that should be respected.

**islander** · 08-22-2009, 02:38 AM

Should be, I dunno if Dana would push the fight or not. Im guessing they have said they dont want to fight each other. Will they have to when Machida beats Rua? hehehe mind you you never know Rua is good.

**Thomas_Rivera** · 08-22-2009, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JNB

Silva Wants to Eat Way to Heavyweight Contention

Does anyone else think that his skills won't be as sharp at HW?

It depends how far into the heavyweight division he goes, right now if he gained about 15 pounds he'd be in the 230 region, maybe 235. We all know that when you bulk, unless you get accustomed to that weight there is some decrease in cardio and abilility.

I think the heavyweight division will supply unique problems that Silva has never needed to face off against often.

Severe weight disadvantage
Reach disadvantage
Wrestlers that use their wrestling ability offensively and can strike well
BJJ practitioners that can use their abilities offensively and strike well
Guys with solid jaws

I'll shoot through a few guys that I think he will have problems with, not in any particular order.

Mirko Filopovic - With Mirko getting more familiar with fighting in the octagon and stylistically changing to fight in the octagon his striking is something that Silva has not had to put up with. Crocop has ended fights with body punches and kicks, he's not always a head hunter. I would favor Filopovics striking power against Silvas dodging, I wouldn't expect him to throw punches to the head without going to the body.

Brock Lesnar - Powerful, shoots in fast, longer reach, one of the only true heavyweights by virtue of fight weight, dominant wrestler, able to eat a punch or knee to get the takedown, one of the few fighter that can cause lacerations and hematomas of the kind inflicted on Mir from the ground. In a five round match if Brock secured just one take down and laid on Silva in the half without being able to knock him out, he would drain silvas tank down to the ground.

Nogueria - Good chin, excellent BJJ, good conditioning, good striking. I think Silva would have to worry about someone with the ability to get past his striking and get him to the ground in Nogeuira where he would probably get tapped.

Frank Mir - Weight advantage, reach advantage, great bjj, solid striking, very flexible for his size. I think he would bring the same things that Nog can bring, except he is slightly lower in the bjj ability and has greater size, strength and striking.

Famine · 08-22-2009, 02:49 PM

I think his ego out of control if he thinks he can dominate the heavy weights. The Forrest Griffin fight doesn't prove anything to me. Forrest was not all there that fight. If he beats a few more top light heavy weight guys, THEN I'd see what the heavy weight division has to offer.

Doesn't he only have 3-4 fights left before he goes to boxing? Or is that out the door?

**Thomas_Rivera** · 08-22-2009, 02:53 PM

I think he has 3-4 fights left before he retires, if he really thinks he can take the heavy weights then he should try for it. Hes a great fighter at light heavy and middle, but going up to heavy is a whole nother level.

**Medic08** · 08-24-2009, 11:58 AM

I mean the guy is cleaning out middle weight and light heavy weight divisions so he should have the confidence to fight heavy weight. He does not have a big head, the guy just wants a challenge and he would be challenged at heavy weight. If your gonna be called best p4p fighter in the world there is only one way to prove it ya know?

**Thomas_Rivera** · 08-24-2009, 12:53 PM

He should fight at heavyweight. I think its going to be interesting seeing how he fights guys that aren't tired from cutting weight and how he will perform at a heavier weight.

boxing750 · 08-25-2009, 02:43 PM

I think he has the skill his speed would be nice to see at hw

**islander** · 08-25-2009, 03:12 PM

when ever I think back on the forrest silva fight I always remember it like it was matrix style

**HawaiianPride.** · 08-25-2009, 03:20 PM

Lol totally agree.

**Julio** · 08-25-2009, 03:36 PM

**Thomas_Rivera** · 08-25-2009, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxing750

I think he has the skill his speed would be nice to see at hw

His speed will probably get slightly diminished, I imagine he would maintain most of it.

In a Silva vs Mir fight you have to wonder if Silva is going to be able to do the same things he can do to smaller competitors. Can he control Mir with a body triangle? Can he control the taller heavier Mir with a clinch?

**islander** · 08-26-2009, 12:14 AM

Julio that is ****en awesome! hahahahhaa