Pat Miletich: Anderson Silva is a ‘safer’ fight for GSP than Hendricks
Pat Miletich knows a thing or two about the UFC Welterweight championship. However, his recent comments on the subject may have some scratching their heads, as he apparently believes that Johnny Hendricks is no doubt a tougher matchup for Georges St-Pierre than even the reigning Middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Silva debuted as a small favorite earlier this week, at roughly 1.6-to-1 over GSP. The superfight between them has not been booked yet, and Hendricks has said he will wait for the title shot that he wholly deserves. Miletich thinks Hendricks’ storied wrestling history will make the difference here, speaking to Sherdog Radio on the subject:
“If I’m Georges St. Pierre, to be honest with you, I’m probably going to lean towards fighting Anderson Silva. There’s a hell of a lot more to gain obviously, but that might even, to be honest with you, be a safer fight for him. I think Johny Hendricks might have a unique game that may go as a serious risk for GSP. (St. Pierre) may get a takedown, but he’s not holding Hendricks down. I think Hendricks is obviously a good enough wrestler, a strong enough guy when he’s coming back up. And Hendricks has some serious one-punch knockout power. When he hits people, he’s sliding them across the ice.”
Hendricks is on a roll as of late, that is for certain. But to say he’s more dangerous than the man with an unbeaten UFC campaign, with the highest percent of significant strikes and a whole highlight reel of jaw-dropping knockouts, is a bit much at this point in time. Hendricks may cause problems for GSP because he would be able to fend off and get up from takedowns better than Carlos Condit did, but then again, Jon Fitch was supposed to be able to do that. Hendricks may be a better wrestler, but I don’t think he could beat Anderson Silva. Not a chance in my book. GSP is obviously a smart fighter, and if he felt he had any more of a chance against Silva, I’m sure he would take it. It’s a no-brainer because on one hand you have the biggest MMA fight in history, the other you have a title fight against a great fighter who has yet to break into the mainstream. Both Silva and Hendricks cut a good amount of weight to fight at their respective weight classes. What do you think of Miletich’s strong words here?
