Last week it was reported that UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva is most interested in a fight against welterweight title-holder Georges St-Pierre next, even going as far as saying no matter whether GSP wins or loses his upcoming matchup against interim champion Carlos Condit at UFC 154 on Nov. 17 in Montreal.
Well, let’s assume that if the longtime champion St-Pierre is upset by Condit a rematch for the belt will be more likely in his near future than a date with Silva. But should GSP, who is coming off a nearly 18-month layoff after an ACL injury in December, even consider taking a fight against Silva right now?
Our two guest point-counterpoint bloggers, Trevor Dueck and E. Spencer Kyte, debate whether the UFC should make the fight and whether it should be at a catchweight or for Silva’s middleweight title.
Cast your votes as to whose arguments you like better…
Should GSP should fight Silva next if he beats Condit?
Dueck: Bring on the super-fight
I think most people will agree with me when I say, Abso-Freakin’-lutely! This fight is a long time coming and it’s what the UFC needs. When was the last time we got to see a super-fight? I mean a real UFC super-fight? There has always been chirping about Anderson Silva vs. GSP, Anderson Silva vs. Jon Jones — not to mention Anderson Silva vs. his clone — but they never seem to happen.
MMA needs a Mayweather vs. Pacquiao type fight, but not just talk, an actual real fight. What better combatants than the UFC’s two longest-tenured champions. St-Pierre vs. Silva would be a fight the world would watch. It would break PPV records and sell out within minutes. This fight would print its own money for everyone involved.
If GSP beats Condit it is time to allow the fans to see who is truly the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. This may sound like a crazy idea, but let’s go one step further, how about a best of three? The first fight could take place on Canadian soil in Toronto at the Rogers Centre, the second could take place in Rio in an outdoor stadium and if a third fight is needed it could go to Las Vegas. If you are going to have the biggest fight in combat sports history, why not go big and cash in as much as possible?
But even if it’s just a one-off fight, let’s get it done ASAP… sayeth the fans! Now let’s allow Spencer to rain on our parade.
Kyte: Bad for the big picture
Yes, the fan in me would love to see this fight just like everyone else. However, if I’m thinking about more than just a one-off fight and looking at the bigger picture, I have to say no.
St-Pierre last defended his welterweight title at UFC 129 in April 2011. His injury put the belt on hold, and then Condit put the interim belt on the shelf by waiting for Georges to return. In the span of 18 months, we’ve had one title fight in the entire division, and now we’re going to put the newly unified belt back on the shelf for another six-to-nine months and jam up the top of the division all over again just so we can see this one super-fight fight? Weren’t we just complaining about belts not being defended all last year?
The night GSP takes on Condit, Johny Hendricks and Martin Kampmann fight to determine the next title challenger. Why should they be put in a position where they either have to (1) wait anywhere from six months to a year before fighting for the title, or (2) opt to fight again and risk their shot so that two champions can meet and potentially put two divisions on hold?
As much as this super-fight would be fun and exciting Trevor, what value is there in having one of your best fighters and most dominant champions take a loss? You’ve got contenders lined up in both divisions. If either man is going to take a loss, why not have it be to someone who can then carry the division moving forward, rather than saddling either guy with a loss that does nothing to help the weight class.
POLL:
Whose case do you like better (should GSP fight Silva if he beats Condit?)
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Should it be for the middleweight title or at a catchweight?
Dueck: GSP should make the permanent move to 185
See what did I tell you? Spencer should change his twitter handle to @nofunspence. Now to continue with our good idea, the “GSP vs. Silva Mega-fight of the decade” should not be a catchweight fight but it should be for The Spider’s 185-pound title.
St-Pierre has said that he is open to the idea of fighting at middleweight and if he were to make that move up in weight he would make it permanent. What better way to welcome St-Pierre to the 185-pound division than with an instant title shot? If anyone deserved it, it would be GSP. Georges could vacate the 170-pound title and allow for a welterweight tournament that would include his fellow Tristar teammate and blue-chip prospect Rory MacDonald.
Yes it’s true GSP would make a small 185er. That said his walk-around weight is roughly 194 pounds, so it would be less of a cut than having to drop to 170 or even 155, which some have suggested as a possible division. Forget those people. If GSP were to vacate his welterweight title give him a shot at the middleweight crown. Give both legends an opportunity to take their legacies to new heights.
Kyte: Catchweight is the only way to do it
There is no question to me this fight should be a non-title catchweight bout, since I don’t think GSP has the build to make a permanent move to the 185-pound ranks. Everyone wants to romanticize St-Pierre because he’s Canadian and so utterly dominant at welterweight that they envision him going up to middleweight and grinding people out there too, but I don’t think that would happen.
If you look at the top contenders in the middleweight division right now, they’re either (1) former light heavyweights who now cut to ’85, or (2) guys like Chris Weidman who make sizable cuts. St-Pierre would be undersized competing at middleweight, and despite his immense talent, sometimes sheer physical strength and size just wins out. Trevor you mention MacDonald in a potential welterweight tournament should St-Pierre leave the division, but honestly I could see MacDonald making the permanent move to middleweight with greater ease than GSP, as the 23-year-old is still growing and will continue to add mass as he gets older.
The other part of it for me is that I don’t have any interest in listening to GSP fans complaining about the unfair advantage Silva had fighting in his natural weight class. If you’re going to do it, get them both to 178, keep belts out of the equation, and do it up “special attraction” style.
POLL:
Whose case do you like better (should it be for title or at catchweight)?
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Trevor Dueck writes for MMASucka.com and 24 Hours Vancouver. Follow him on Twitter @tdueckMMA.
E. Spencer Kyte is a regular contributor to ufc.com, UFC Magazine, and Fight Magazine, and writes the MMA blog Keyboard Kimura. Follow him on Twitter @spencerkyte.
