How Will Chris Weidman Deal With The New Anderson Silva?

Anticipation for Anderson Silva’s rematch with the new Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman is reaching an all time high right now. Their UFC 168 showdown has been billed as the biggest UFC fight of all time and I have to say I agree. I’m 100% sold with this fight and there are so many factors involved here.

This is the first time in more than seven years that Silva has had to fight for a title as a challenger. This means that he may have the added advantage of being the hungry, vicious minded freak that he was a few years ago before winning the belt. It’s also worth considering the fact that Silva has considered retirement more than once in his illustrious career.

After losing to Ryo Chonan by heel hook at Pride Shockwave 2004, Silva had pretty much made up his mind that he would call it quits. Only his long time friends and training partners the Nogueira Brothers were able to change his mind. ‘The Spider’ was reborn and his only loss between that night in 2004 and his most recent win against Stephan Bonnar was a DQ loss against Yushin Okami; a loss that Silva would avenge by dominating TKO at UFC 134.

After defending his cage rage belt for a third time, Silva debuted in the UFC by knocking out Chris Leben at UFC Fight Night 5. The time since has seen Silva hold the belt hostage and destroy all comers. His spectacular fight against Sonnen was the closest we saw Silva coming to lose before the Weidman fight, and just look how he bounced back from that.

He also has the advantage of being the unknown element in the equation, not only is this the first UFC loss of his career, but also the first time he has ever been stopped by strikes. That added dent in Silva’s pride might have fuelled him to become even better than before. The truth is, no-one knows how Silva will fight at UFC 168 and that includes Weidman.

I don’t mean to take anything from Weidman’s momentous achievement, but would that left hook have knocked someone out in any other situation? Silva’s hands were down, his chin in the air and he was leant back in a ridiculously open stance. Like I said, nothing from Weidman but it would have been ineffective to a guarded chin.

Silva had Weidman frustrated in that point of the fight, but had barely attempted any of his renowned striking to this time. His elusiveness and cocky behaviour was getting to Weidman, although he acknowledged Silva’s style and had previously stated that it wouldn’t get in his head. What about now?

Silva seemed unmotivated in his recent outings against Bonnar, Okami, Demian Maia, Thales Leites and even Forrest Griffin to an extent. He toyed with them as if they were junior to his superior abilities, and in the end they were. My opinion is that Weidman has lit a fire under Silva, and is yet to see the results. Silva is a dangerous catalyst in a very exciting formula.

I can’t honestly say that I believe Weidman can handle Silva at his best. I don’t think Silva gave a good account of himself at 162, and I also believe that the result would have been very different had Silva opened up on Weidman early on. I think Weidman is an amazing talent, but not up to the Silva standard. My prediction: 100% Silva.

Outer thumbnail photo credit: USA TODAY SPORTS