He may no longer be the UFC Middleweight Champion, but it’s always a big deal when Anderson Silva steps into the octagon. In the coming months, the former champ will be returning to the UFC following a 12-month suspension (retroactive January 31, 2015) for a failed post-fight drug test in his previous bout against Nick Diaz.
After recently signing an exorbitant 15-fight contract, there are a lot of interesting fights for the spider to take. Taking into consideration Silva’s age and past fights with Middleweight Champion, Chris Weidman, it may be unlikely that Silva will again challenge for the Middleweight title, or fight the top of the division, i.e. Jacare Souza, Yoel Romero, or Luke Rockhold. Considering that, it may be time for the UFC to redefine Silva’s role to that of a super-fight attraction. Silva may no longer be in line for a title shot, but the UFC can still put him in some big-name fights that would be exciting to fans. So let’s play Joe Silva, and try to predict who should Anderson Silva fight next.
Michael Bisping
This fight is probably the most likely and makes the most sense. Bisping has been one fight away from a title shot several times, and has often voiced his desire to fight Silva. Silva himself has even teased at the possibility that the two will meet, recently saying, “The people talk for my next opponent is, I don’t remember the name, but I think it’s Michael Bisping. I think, I don’t know.”
Silva can often be vague with his statements so it’s hard to know how much truth there is here. Bisping himself stated that he didn’t know they were fighting, saying, “Oh, really?’ I had no idea. Apparently he thinks we’re fighting! I found it very amusing.” Whether or not this fight is actually in the works remains to be seen, but a match-up between the two would certainly be exciting for the fans.
Winner of Dan Henderson vs. Vitor Belfort
This one would be a rematch for Silva, regardless of who comes out victorious in the upcoming bout between Henderson and Belfort, but either of these two rematches would likely draw well. All three men seem to be heading in similar directions at this stage of their careers; none is too likely to challenge for a title again, and the UFC seems more intent on putting them into fan friendly matches, than having them fight with any kind of title implications.
Uriah Hall
This one might be a little out of left field, but stay with me. Hall finally has some real momentum after finishing Gegard Mousasi in incredible fashion for the biggest win of his career, and is now ranked as the number ten top contender on UFC.com. Hall may finally be reaching the potential that the UFC hype train has wanted us to believe in, and a fight with Silva could be huge. A fight between the two would be a striking fan’s dream, and we can almost guarantee this one would end in a knockout. And it wasn’t long ago that Chael Sonnen (while coaching Hall on The Ultimate Fighter) said that he believed Hall was capable of beating anyone in the division (alluding to Silva).
Georges St-Pierre
There was a time when GSP vs. Silva would have been the super fight to end all super fights, but as the years go on, this one is looking more and more unlikely. And while this fight would have been much more significant back when both were champions, it’s still one of the biggest matches the UFC can make and would undoubtedly be one for the ages. St-Pierre has even recently commented on making a return to the octagon. “I’m starting to get the feeling, more and more, to come back,” St-Pierre said. “I watch the fights to see what’s going on in my division, and I’m staying in shape. It’s like a knife that I have to keep sharp just in case I ever decide to jump back in the mix. It’s most likely not going to happen in 2015, but I don’t know, yet.”
It might be the most unlikely fight on this list, but it’s still the one that fight fans have always dreamt about.
LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 28: Anderson Silva prepares to face Chris Weidman in their UFC middleweight championship bout during the UFC 168 event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 28, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
