When UFC middleweight champion
Anderson Silva (33-4 MMA, 16-0 UFC) steps in to the cage at UFC 162, it will be
the first appearance of a massive 10-fight deal. Will Silva actually fight 10
more times? The champ said he doesn’t know, especially since he only asked for
a four-fight contract.
“Maybe there’s a contradiction
lost in translation,” Silva told MMAjunkie.com through an interpreter. “I
wanted to do four more fights, and they said eight, so I said, ‘Whatever. Let’s
do eight, 10. Let’s do however many fights you want.’ They got on that ride and
offered me 10 fights, and that’s what I signed.”
Silva’s claim stands in a bit
of contrast to UFC President Dana White’s recollection of the pair’s latest
contract talks. According to White, it was Silva who directly requested the
lengthy deal despite recently turning 38 years old.
The UFC boss and the best
fighter in company history have seemed to find themselves on different
wavelengths in recent months, as witnessed by a series of missed media
obligations in May and subsequent claim from the champ that he was completely
unaware of the appointments.
Of course, White has often
referred to Silva as “an artist,” who likes to send mixed messages in the media
in an apparent attempt to entertain himself during the sessions he reportedly
doesn’t enjoy.
That said, fans don’t pay to
watch Silva give interviews or negotiate contracts. They pay to watch him
destroy opponents, which is exactly what he’s done in all but a handful of his
16 UFC appearances. Next up is Chris Weidman (9-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC), who takes on
the champ in the headlining bout of UFC 162, which takes place July 6 at Las
Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena.
While Silva holds a
significant experience edge, the decade-younger Weidman presents a difficult
stylistic matchup. Still, Silva is a significant wagering favorite and is
expected to win yet again.
If he does, what’s left? A
rematch with Vitor Belfort perhaps? Superfights with Georges St-Pierre and/or
Jon Jones? In short, what are the chances we actually see “The Spider” fight 10
more times?
“It all depends,” Silva said. “Ten
fights is about six years, so we’ll see what happens in the meantime. I hope
that I’m still inspired and that I still have the will power and the desire to
go out there and fight. But I’m happy.
“I’m well-treated by Dana and
Lorenzo (Fertitta) and everyone in the UFC, and I hope to continue having this
desire to fight and go in there and train. But it’s a matter of time. We have
to go in there and see what’s going to happen in the next few years.” (Source)
