Frank Mir Vs. Anderson Silva?

[Marquis]

Anderson Silva wants big-money event fights. And he's willing to work at heavyweight to make sure they happen.

Prior to Silva's flooring Forrest Griffin earlier this month in Philadelphia, SI.com confirmed that Silva's representatives had spoken with Zuffa about the heralded UFC middleweight champion moving up to heavyweight for the first time in his career.

Not only that, they already had an opponent in mind: Frank Mir.

Disinterested by middleweight contenders Nathan Marquardt, Demian Maia and Dan Henderson, and unwilling to fight close friend Lyoto Machida at light heavyweight -- where Silva could conceivably knock off challengers and make a disaster out of the UFC's marquee division -- "The Spider" needs new, challenging scenarios to stay motivated. A move to heavyweight would certainly achieve that, and according to Silva's manager Ed Soares, the UFC was receptive to the idea.

Based on longevity and dominance, the label of MMA's best fighter has arguably belonged to Russian heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko for the past few years. However, the gap between Emelianenko and Silva has closed to a photo finish. And if the UFC can be convinced that a move to heavyweight is the right plan as 185 sorts itself out, Silva could set himself up to supplant Emelianenko as the sport's best.

It would indeed be impressive for a former world champion at 167 pounds to climb all the way to heavyweight, where blockbusters against Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, or, dare we say it, Brock Lesnar, a fight Silva would accept if the money is right, could materialize.

Beyond legacy issues, which media and fans tend to focus on more than fighters, the move up could drastically improve Silva's paydays, which would increase with the size of his opponents and corresponding pay-per-view numbers.

For all those reasons, I like the move.

Sure, the organization's middleweight division features several threats. But outside of Maia, we've already seen Silva brush most challengers aside. Silva's team argues that Henderson, Marquardt and Maia aren't deserving. They want the Marquardt-Maia winner to fight Henderson to establish a true contender in the division. I don't think it's a terrible idea. There shouldn't be any disagreement that Marquardt or Maia against Henderson would be a perfect bout to use the Nevada option of five-round non-title fights (more on that to come).

Otherwise, the one challenger rarely mentioned these days is Yushin Okami, whom Silva should fight before he leaves the division for good. Outside of that, you're talking about Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva, both great names and potential draws who are just emerging at 185.

The best bouts might come at light heavyweight -- Silva vs. Rampage; Rashad; Shogun; and down the road, Jon Jones or Gegard Mousasi -- but with Silva and Machida refusing to fight, an extended stay at 205 doesn't make sense. By the sound of things, the talented Brazilians won't compete no matter how much pressure comes down from Dana White and the UFC.

"I'm gonna say there's no way they fight," said Soares, who also manages Machida.

What does that leave? Heavyweight.

Who wouldn't want to see whether Silva at his walk-around 215 to 220 pounds is good enough to defeat opponents regardless of weight? Pound for pound personified, I say. A win or two in the division would embolden fans and media with enough hope that Silva could be the one to stop Lesnar.

The pound-for-pound king an underdog? Imagine that.

So it looks like Anderson might move up to heavyweight after all. I'm all for this move. At Middleweight i feel there's no challenge left at all for Anderson outside of a Henderson rematch. Anderson has cleared out the division, and with ease. Light heavyweight is obviously out of the question since Anderson refuses to fight Lyoto, so heavyweight is the next best thing, and in my opinion the best choice out of the three weight classes.

You often hear people say Anderson is the current pound 4 pound king, and is a threat to Fedor's legacy. Well, a move to heavyweight I think is the best way to prove he's a threat to fedor's legacy of being the greatest ever. Fedor fights at a weight class where fighters can have a 30 pound difference between them or more, and being a small heavyweight, Fedor does encounter this often. Yet at the weight of 230 Fedor still dominated and continues to dominate the division. Now Anderson I understand walks around at 220, I take walk around weight as the weight you're in normally when not preparing for a fight. Since during training from my understanding you slowly cut little by little, till fight night where you cut a bigger amount to make weight. If Anderson walks around at 220, then I think when he actually bulks up and trims whatever fat he has at walk around weight, I would think he would fight at somewhere between 220-230. Same size Randy and Fedor usually come in. So a move for heavyweight for Anderson is a great move.

As for the actual fight with Mir if it happens. I think it's a very dangerous opponent for Anderson's first fight at heavyweight if he takes it. Anderson doesn't exactly have superior takedown defense, which is pretty bad for him since he will be up against a around 250 pound Mir, who according to a interview I saw recently wants to bulk up for the eventual Brock rematch. So Mir might come in even bigger then 250. At 250 or more, I think Mir wouldn't have a hard time taking down Anderson. Now Anderson has submitted a black belt off his back in Lutter, but a black belt with such a notable weight difference? Even I think the one who so many consider the pound 4 pound king is gonna be in trouble. On the feet I would obviously give Anderson the edge, even with Mir's much improved striking, I don't think he will last very long with Anderson standing. So I would hope Mir doesn't stand for too long and tries to shoot for the takedown. Looking forward to this match if it does happen.

 

[jmt225]

You know, I read about this as well yesterday morning when I was updating the Rankings, and I didn't post it because I just didn't believe a word of it. As of right now, I still don't. However, for fun... let's assume Anderson does move up to Heavyweight and his first opponent is none other than Frank Mir.

As Marquis said, Frank Mir is a very dangerous opponent for Anderson Silva. I don't think people realize just how big Mir is. He's 6 ft 2 in with a 79 reach, and for his fight against Brock Lesnar, he weighed in at 245. In an interview the day after the fight with Lesnar, Mir said he was going to dedicate himself to add on 10/15 pounds of muscle. So, if he succeeds with that and this fight does happen, then Anderson Silva will be stepping into the cage with someone who not only ways around 260 (which I assume would put Anderson at a 40 pound disadvantage), but also someone who, for the first time in Anderson Silva's career, has a decent reach advantage over him. That, plus the fact that Mir's stand-up has improved dramatically these past two years and the fact that if Anderson nevertheless still gets the best of Mir on the feet, Mir is more than qualified to take it to the ground and make something happen there, whether it'd be a submission or just lay 'n pray. When you think about it... it's a really, really tough fight for Silva and even though he certainly is the Pound 4 Pound king in my book, I'm not positive he would be able to pull it off. Honestly, I think he could defeat Fedor before he could Mir. But you never know; this is Anderson Silva we're talking about here.

Anyway, typing that up made me realize that I actually do want to see this go down. I mean, the options for Anderson at 205 are so limited since he won't fight Lyoto Machida, and really... right now there's nothing for Frank Mir to do. So, yeah... this is actually a very good idea, in my opinion. However, I still don't think it'll ever happen.

 

[TM Punk]

I think it will happen. The article said Silva walks around at 215,220 i dont think it would be that hard for him to gain another 15/20 pounds. And who's to say that Mir weighing more would be a disadvantage for Silva. He has an edge in quickness over every heavyweight out there except for maybe Lesnar. And he's never had to really worry about his takedown defense against his other opponents because he's always been able to dictate the pace, and alot of them were stand up fighters like him.

Facing a guy like Mir who relies on takedowns and getting the advantage on the ground would only make Silva prepare more for that. And if I can be completely honest, there are only two people that I could see giving Silva a run for his money. Lesnar, and of course the dream match GSP.

 

[Marquis]

I think it will happen. The article said Silva walks around at 215,220 i dont think it would be that hard for him to gain another 15/20 pounds.

Well thing is, that's walk around weight. Meaning the weight he walks around in, so to me that at least that sounds like the weight he's in when he's not training. Remember, Anderson used to fight at 167, big difference from the weights he fights at now. I really doubt Anderson is in tip top shape at 215-220, meaning how much weight does he actually lose before he looks in shape? I would add whatever that weight is to the 15-20 pounds he should gain. I really can't see him being bigger then 230 if he fights at heavyweight.

And who's to say that Mir weighing more would be a disadvantage for Silva. He has an edge in quickness over every heavyweight out there except for maybe Lesnar. And he's never had to really worry about his takedown defense against his other opponents because he's always been able to dictate the pace, and alot of them were stand up fighters like him.

He fought a Jiu Jitsu fighter in Travis Lutter who basically dictated the pace of the fight by taking Anderson down twice, with ease really.

Facing a guy like Mir who relies on takedowns and getting the advantage on the ground would only make Silva prepare more for that.

Well he knew the same thing about Travis Lutter beforehand, yet that didn't stop Lutter from taking him down once in each round. If Lutter was able to takedown Silva, then I'm sure a 260 pound Mir could. Now Lutter wasn't able to control Silva on the ground, but that's gonna be a different story with Mir. Besides considering Mir a better fighter, Mir will have roughly 30 pound weight advantage over Silva, I really doubt Silva can scramble out of the the ground when he has a 260 pound Jiu Jitsu black belt on top of him.

 

[AdamBenjamin]

I'm not so sure I could believe Silva going up that high, and still retaining the same style.. But if anyone can do it, it's him.. That said, I'm not expecting it to happen right now, if it does at all... However, the though of that guy fighting in that class... It makes me drool. If he can adjust well and work on his takedowns in both respects (a good understanding of how to do something, is one of the best defenses there is!), Anderson will be damn near unstoppable.. Well, assuming he can eat a few rights from Lesnar. If it did come down to him and Lesnar, I think Brock would be one of the few to be able to take some serious punishment from Silva and still have a fighting chance.


As far as Mir is concerned, I think that would be perfect first fight in the division for Anderson Silva.. Look at him now, the guy wants a challenge, and Frank Mir will provide just that, given weight difference, his recent developments, and ground game. I believe it would be a classic, and this is coming from a non Mir fan. A few heavyweight wins for Anderson, and that division would be on fire, even more so than it's on its way to being. I'm excited even considering it... Silva vs Nog?!

 

[FromTheSouth]

I agree that Anderson Silva is the pound for pound king. He is the best fighter in the world. No other fighter can hang with him at middle, or light heavyweight. Heavyweight, though, might be a different story. Mir is bigger and stronger, and superior on the ground. Silva's quickness will be an advantage, however, how many times can he escape on the ground? If it stays standing up, I think Mir is fucked. Reach be damned, Silva is just too good standing up.