Dethroning Silva: Could one of these five fighters have what it takes

Anderson Silva (32-4) is the reigning UFC Middleweight Champion. He has been called “a mutant”, a “freak of nature” and “the greatest martial artist of all time”. With 15 straight wins in the UFC spanning over 6 years, the question I am most often asked by fans, fighters and fellow scribes is “What is it going to take for someone to defeat Anderson Silva?”
There is no quick or easy answer. A shift up and down to the wrong weight class could be his undoing, likewise age could start to catch up with him, but

Nick Diaz seeks to return to UFC, wants to challenge Anderson Silva

According to a post on graciefighter.com by Cesar Gracie, Nick Diaz (27-8 MMA, 7-5 UFC) wants to return to the Octagon and may have his eyes set on facing UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva.Diaz has not fought since his loss in February to Carlos Condit at UFC 143 for the interim Welterweight title. After his loss by decision, Diaz announced his retirement from the UFC. A few days later, he was suspended for a year by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, because he tested positive for marijuana, his

Rory MacDonald says he is going to hurt BJ Penn worse than GSP did

Already one of the UFC’s most dominating young prospects, Rory MacDonald has an ultra-valuable opportunity with his fight against BJ Penn at UFC 152 in Toronto, Ontario,Canada. The Welterweight has seen little opposition to his powerful style of fighting, aided by the expert tutelage of one Georges St. Pierre at the TriStar Gym. Penn has publicly expressed his dislike for MacDonald’s gym, and also recently backed out of the VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association) drug testing procedures that he had

Jake Ellenberger set to face Josh Koscheck at UFC 151

News has broke that the co-main event to September’s UFC 151 featuring Jon Jones vs. Dan Henderson is set. Welterweights Jake Ellenberger and Josh Koscheck will square off in the Octagon in a bout of two highly-ranked fighters coming off of a loss. Both looking to get back on track and claw towards the title shot, the fight presents a very interesting dynamic for a division that is currently experiencing quite the logjam at the top.
Ellenberger was one of the UFC’s most talked-about fighters after

Edson Barboza moves into the Final Eight for ESPN’s 2012 ESPY Awards

Edson Barboza (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is one of eight finalists in the 2012 ESPY Awards. An ESPY Award (short for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award) is an accolade presented by ESPN to recognize outstanding individual and team athletic achievement. Barboza has been nominated for his wheelhouse kick knock out of Terry Etim at UFC 142 in Brazil this past January.
To say Barboza is elated would be the understatement of the year. His kick earned him a pair of bonuses for both “Knockout of the Night”

GSP: Chael Sonnen is inside Anderson Silva’s head

UFC Welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre recently came out with some comments about Middleweight champion Anderson Silva’s heated tirade about Chael Sonnen. In his years as champion, St. Pierre has found himself the target of much smack talk, but has always chose to take the high road and remain quiet. GSP prefers to let his fighting skills do the talking in the Octagon. Silva has often been very similar during his long reign at 185 lbs., but it appears that the incessant trash talk and disrespect from

Dana White: I expect UFC 100 numbers for Silva vs. Sonnen II

Speaking at yesterday’s UFC 148 media conference call, UFC President Dana White declared high hopes for the card that arguably the most anticipated rematch in MMA history, Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II. White was not bashful in his declaration of expectations for the event:
“There’s no doubt that we expect over 1 million buys here. We expect UFC 100 numbers.”
The bar has been set quite high for the UFC by its President, who has already set the comparisons to 2009’s summer blockbuster in motion. The

Thumbs Down: 5 fights that didn’t happen in 2012

It is midway through 2012, and it seems to be a bad year for injuries in the UFC. Five important fights have been cancelled or postponed this year due to injury, surgery, illness or suspension. These things are all part of the fight game and have been since day one. The nature of the sport is brutal, but injuries are not isolated to fights. Most fighters suffer their injuries in training.  As well-rounded as a UFC fighter is expected to be, it is quite easy to “overtrain”, that is, put the body