Wanderlei wants Liddell before dropping to 185
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Brazilian brawler Wanderlei Silva is scheduled to meet with UFC president Dana White this week to determine his next challenge.
The former Pride champion is not thrilled about a possible cut to middleweight. He walks around at 215 pounds, and doesn’t like to cut more than 10 pounds for a fight. He denied an immediate move to the division below him, but said he would wait to hear from “the boss.”
“It’s my normal weight,” he says of the light heavyweight class. “I never cut down too much weight for a fight. Maybe I go to fight one more time at light heavyweight, and after I go down.”
To Silva, the fight that makes the most sense is a rematch with Chuck Liddell, who gave him a three-round slugfest at UFC 79. He lost the decision, but feels they put on another fight of the year.
“I am thinking I want to fight Chuck again,” says Silva. “I want to fight with him again because I had a good match with him, and his style is a good style for me, and my style is good for him. It’s good for the show. Maybe it’s good for Dana.”
Following his brutal knockout loss at the hands of Quinton Jackson, at the post-fight press conference for UFC 92, White gave some credence to a second meeting between Silva and Liddell.
Silva shot down the idea of fighting training partner Forrest Griffin, though a bout with the winner of Dan Henderson vs. Rich Franklin interested him.
Whatever his next move is, he feels a tremendous responsibility to have a good showing and entertain the fans. But he also acknowledged his style places him danger of being knocked out, and he may need to modify his hyper-aggressiveness.
“Yeah, I need to change, because there is a danger,” he says. “Sometimes you open the guard to throw your punches. I am old, so I need to train more to change my style. But I think I’m going to train to change what I need to change.”
Liddell would provide the motivation to do so, especially because a win over the former light heavyweight champion could reinvigorate his career.
“I don’t know if I’m going to fight with Chuck... I’m going to study what I need to change, what I need to train different,” Silva explains. “Because now my cardio is the best cardio in my life. I have a very good condition. Now, I need to change a little bit of my technique to come back to win.”
If they fight again, Silva says he will work harder to get inside Liddell’s guard. At UFC 79, he managed to on several occasions, and knocked Liddell down in the second round. He also took a lot of punishment on the way in.
“I think I need to train more stand-up, because he has a longer reach,” says Silva. “I think I need to train more boxing than Muay Thai.”
Plenty of options exist for Silva's future. The only question is what “the boss” wants.
“I’m working for the UFC, I need to know what Dana wants for me,” says Silva.
I would like to see them fight again.
Re: Wanderlei wants Liddell before dropping to 185
Re: Wanderlei wants Liddell before dropping to 185
correct me if I am wrong but are they 1 and 1 against each other? I know wandi beat chuck at pride but not sure if it was more than once.
Re: Wanderlei wants Liddell before dropping to 185
I thought the last time was the first time they fought
Re: Wanderlei wants Liddell before dropping to 185
I dunno but want to see the battle again!!!!!:ARChainGu
Re: Wanderlei wants Liddell before dropping to 185
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Originally Posted by
MAK2102
I thought the last time was the first time they fought
This is correct. They did not fight in Pride. I would like to see them fight again but it is really a lose/lose situation for both, really. If Wandy beats Chuck then that is two losses in a row for Chuck and that is not good considering his last few fights. If he wins, so what, he beat Wandy who is 1-3 in the UFC. If Wandy wins, it doesn't really help him if he is moving to 185 and a win over Chuck isn't that big of a win right now. If he loses, then that is just another loss on his record before going to 185. Neither fighter really has anything to gain in the fight IMO.
Re: Wanderlei wants Liddell before dropping to 185
No need for them to fight again. I think Wanderlei should drop to 185 and get a winning streak going. I don't know why Chuck still wants to fight? The 205 weight class is inundated with a lot of top fighters who he won't be able to beat.
Re: Wanderlei wants Liddell before dropping to 185
Well, Chuck is training with American Top Team now and he is trying to change his style...he still has some good fights in him.
Wandy is now being called out by James Irvin who is also dropping to 185...so we could see them clash heads soon.
Re: Wanderlei wants Liddell before dropping to 185
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Originally Posted by
tn94z
Wandy is now being called out by James Irvin who is also dropping to 185...so we could see them clash heads soon.
That would make sense for Wandy and wouldn't be too big of a push over and you know it's going to be a slug fest...just what Wandy wants...
Re: Wanderlei wants Liddell before dropping to 185
I know. The problem is that Irvin probably has alot more KO power than Rampage, so Wandy may need to be careful in a slugfest
Re: Wanderlei wants Liddell before dropping to 185
I'd rather see a great technicly fight then a slug fest sometimes. Its always great to buy the pay per view and its over in 30 seconds. hmmm thats money just went out the window
Re: Wanderlei wants Liddell before dropping to 185
Re: Wanderlei wants Liddell before dropping to 185
Yeah, I personally like the Machida type fights. Slugfests are good but IMO it takes less skill to win a slugfest and more luck. I really like the grappling aspect, I am a little biased because of my BJJ, but I have a background in Muay Thai and boxing as well....I just really like the grappling.
