The buzz around the MMA world is still associated with the crushing defeat of the unbeatable Anderson Silva at the hands of Chris Weidman this past weekend at UFC 162. What made for even more drama after Silva’s loss, was his claim that he would “no longer wanted to fight for the championship”. Well, after letting his ego heal for a couple of days, and getting a little bit of time to spend with his loved ones, apparently Silva is ready to get his middleweight championship belt back!
Sources close to the former champion have indicated that he is ready step back into the cage with Weidman as soon as possible, and doesn’t want to wait to do it. In fact, there have even been claims that Silva has said in passing that he wanted to fight this weekend coming; a comment clearly made in jest – but, nevertheless underscoring the Spider’s desire to be at the top of the division again… and soon.
Dana White not only predicted that Silva would change his tune after a week or two (at the UFC 162 post-fight press conference), but I have no doubt that he also embraces it. In fact that there has already been discussions that Ronda Rousey and Meisha Tate would be bumped from the December 28th card, in favour of Weidman vs. Silva II. Weidman has also confirmed that UFC CEO, Lorenzo Fertitta, told him to expect this fight to happen in either December of February 2014.
Given that Weidman has been open about his willingness to fight Silva again, it seems that a re-match is all written in the clouds. Whether or not Silva deserves the shot is likely irrelevant – it is the fight that people want to see, so the UFC will make it happen. Dana White has already stated that Vitor Belfort still has some time before getting his shot at the belt, and despite Michael Bisping’s claims, he is clearly not ready for a shot. Weidman looks like he will get a chance to prove that the first fight was not based on one well planted shot – and that he is the future of the middleweight division.
Stay tuned for more as this story continues to develop.
Follow us on twitter: @lastwordmark and @lastwordonsport
