Boxing/MMA Fights - local, national, world

**steer** · April 24th, 2009, 10:35 PM

I think Dana put certain fighters against Silva, in hopes that he'd have a flashy win. However, I think it's back firing against him.
Silva is the champion, and the champion can fight however he likes.

That's what could play in Machida's favor against Evans. A slow paced fight, with him controlling...he could easily win.

**burton2019** · April 28th, 2009, 03:20 PM

Anderson Silva will be fighting Forestt Griffin at UFC 101.

**Gotch** · April 28th, 2009, 11:29 PM

Yeah, just heard that too.

Some interesting "educated guessing" going on, among people in the sport, that White is going to try his best to see that Silva loses one of his final four fights.

**burton2019** · April 29th, 2009, 07:41 AM

Ive heard that as well. He was quoted as saying that he cant wait for this fight. It will be at the 205 weight class.

**Gotch** · May 6th, 2009, 10:56 AM

This could be interesting.

Not sure I'm sold on Silva being about to match up to a good 205'er. Size does matter

**steer** · May 6th, 2009, 11:20 AM

but doesn't Silva walk around at 215-220 and cut to fight at 185?

**Gotch** · May 6th, 2009, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by steer

but doesn't Silva walk around at 215-220 and cut to fight at 185?

Most top fighters walk around at 15 to 25 pounds over their fighting weight and by fight time are usually somewhere in between their walking weight and their weight-in weight. I would expect Forrest will step into the ring at 215-225 while Silva will probbaly be 195-205 by fight time.

**Gotch** · May 6th, 2009, 11:31 AM

In fact, I saw someone posting at a MMA site this morning saying that Forrest walks around at 238-240! Don't know if it's true or not.

**steer** · May 6th, 2009, 11:44 AM

goodness... I guess Forrest will have the size advantage. At least Forrest will make it an entertaining fight, and could possibly bring that excitement back into Anderson's game.

**Gotch** · May 6th, 2009, 08:18 PM

I agree.

I guess it's obvious that I'm not convinced that Silva is as good as the hype. He's a great fighter, but it'd take some doing to actually come up to the level of his current hype.

I seldom try to "suggest" hypothetical strategy or anything like that on the internet, but......

I don't see Silva as being top level world class as either a striker or a grappler. But he is a far better striker than most of the guys who can out grapple him. He is also a solid grappler in his own right. Then there is also the now infamous clinch. This is his strongest range.

In the old days I taught that there are basically 4 ranges in unarmed combat, kicking, punching, trapping (clinch), and grappling. Silva is strongest at range 3.

So what to do? Franklin tried a couple of very basic thai counters to the clinch and they failed repeatedly, as they usually do against good opponents. If you are outclassed at that range the 2 best options are to drive your opponent into the ropes / fence where he can no longer create the space to strike effectively or drive in while dropping levels (make sure to close in immediately to avoid eating a knee) and takedown / slam.

Not saying it's that simple, or that's the magic bullet, but it beats eating elbows and knees.

I could envision a really strong striker using option 1 against his clinch and beating him. I could see a high level grappler using option 2 and getting a w.