UFC steps up and signs Wanderlei Silva to fight Chuck Liddell
Back on June 1 mentioned that:
Silva is arguably the top 205 pound fighter in the world, and a fight with UFC would not be a rematch. So, kudos to the UFC for finally signing such a big fight.
But there are two caveats (there always seem to be caveats). First, Silva came into the cage wearing a Pride shirt and thanked the president of Pride for the opportunity, so it is unlikely that he will leave Pride and continue to fight in the UFC after this fight.
Second, Liddell first has to beat Babalu, and that is no small matter. Although he knocked out Babalu fairly quickly in their first fight, nobody expects the rematch to be quite so easy for Liddell. If Liddell looks past Babalu, the fight will go up in flames.
Finally, the UFC also gets kudos for taking such a big risk. If Silva beats Liddell and returns to Pride, the UFC will be left without a legitimate 205 pund champion and it will have given a huge promotional boost to Pride (which has scheduled its first U.S. show for Las Vegas a month before this fight).
Update 7/9: Zach Arnold looks at what this means for the UFC and Pride. (Also note that Ivan Trembow clarifies in the comments to Zach's post that, when asked how many fights Silva would have in the UFC, White responded, "Yeah, three [fights]. We’re probably going to have him for three.")
del.icio.us tags: wanderlei, silva, chuck, liddell, renato, babalu, sobral, pride, ufc, mma, whaledog
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The UFC sent Liddell [to Pride], but the talk of top Pride fighters appearing in the UFC remained just that - talk. All the UFC ever got out of the deal was the promotional appearance of Wanderlei Silva at a UFC show.Now the UFC is going to get much more than a promotional appearance. Between fights at tonight's UFC show, Dana White brought Silva into the cage and annouced that Silva will fight Liddell in the UFC in November - if Liddell beats Renato 'Babalu' Sobral at the next UFC.
Silva is arguably the top 205 pound fighter in the world, and a fight with UFC would not be a rematch. So, kudos to the UFC for finally signing such a big fight.
But there are two caveats (there always seem to be caveats). First, Silva came into the cage wearing a Pride shirt and thanked the president of Pride for the opportunity, so it is unlikely that he will leave Pride and continue to fight in the UFC after this fight.
Second, Liddell first has to beat Babalu, and that is no small matter. Although he knocked out Babalu fairly quickly in their first fight, nobody expects the rematch to be quite so easy for Liddell. If Liddell looks past Babalu, the fight will go up in flames.
Finally, the UFC also gets kudos for taking such a big risk. If Silva beats Liddell and returns to Pride, the UFC will be left without a legitimate 205 pund champion and it will have given a huge promotional boost to Pride (which has scheduled its first U.S. show for Las Vegas a month before this fight).
Update 7/9: Zach Arnold looks at what this means for the UFC and Pride. (Also note that Ivan Trembow clarifies in the comments to Zach's post that, when asked how many fights Silva would have in the UFC, White responded, "Yeah, three [fights]. We’re probably going to have him for three.")
del.icio.us tags: wanderlei, silva, chuck, liddell, renato, babalu, sobral, pride, ufc, mma, whaledog
It's excellent for us long-time MMA fans that a fight like this has finally been setup between Pride FC and the UFC. I hope this fight takes place regardless, because I think that Sobral is going to beat Liddell next month.
Posted by Dr J | 7/08/2006 9:56 PM
I remember a Sherdog interview in which Sakakibara suggested a pair of fights, home and away, between the UFC and Pride belt holders. I'll be interested to see if this is just a one way deal and also if other matchups are going to be made.
Posted by Anonymous | 7/08/2006 11:19 PM
Keep in mind that Silva has to still fight in the OWGP final four. Any remaining fighter will give him a battle, especially if he has to fight twice and win the whole thing. Chances of him losing or at least coming out somewhat injured are better than average. A Silva loss would really take a lot of luster off a matchup with Chuck regardless IMO.
Posted by Anonymous | 7/09/2006 2:12 AM
In response to the 3rd comment:
Indeed, it is risky to have a Silva vs. Liddel fight only 2 months or so after the OWGP. I think the injuries he will incur will go beyond the use of the word "somewhat", however. I doubt he'll be remotely prepared for a fight so soon after the OWGP.
Posted by Anonymous | 7/09/2006 1:20 PM
Based on the article from Pride, it seems like they are approaching this just like any other "interpromotional war" type of scenario. They could benefit greatly in the U.S. if Silva were to beat Liddell. But how is any of this going to benefit Pride's live attendance in Japan?
Also, the wording in the translation is very interesting... "[Sakakibara] says his and Vanderlei’s purpose in coming to the UFC is to take Chuck’s belt and make Silva the 'first Pride/UFC double champion in history.'"
That wording just indicates that Wanderlei could be a double champion, but it doesn't say anything about Wanderlei's Pride belt being on the line in the UFC.
Posted by Ivan Trembow | 7/10/2006 7:57 PM
An even better UFC vrs Pride match-up..."Rampage Jackson vrs.Ortiz".
Liddell vrs Silva is not a fair fight as far as Im concerned.
Posted by Anonymous | 7/12/2006 10:29 AM
everyone knows liddel will knock out silva. if u look at just their punching power chuck has no one near his in the 205 weight class. silva has better cardio but chcuk is a known master at fighting matches at his pace. silva's superior cardio will do him no good and iceman has one of the best takedown defenses and is a master wrestler silva is not. you can take that to the bank.
Posted by Anonymous | 8/04/2006 10:50 PM