Wanderlei Silva seems to think so. While discussing his 195-pound catchweight bout against Rich Franklin that will headline UFC 99 (June 13th; Cologne, Germany), he told MMA Junkie the following:
You know what they call mixed martial artists who walk around at 210 pounds? Middleweights. Some of the UFC’s top 185′ers, including Anderson Silva and Nate Marquardt (as well as Rich Franklin before he left the middleweight division), reportedly weigh in the 215-220 range between fights. Wanderlei Silva’s "situation" is that he’s smaller than most light-heavyweights, and cutting weight sucks. That’s pretty much it.
At this point, installing more weight classes in the UFC wouldn’t do anything besides dilute the talent pool, and a super-middleweight class would only be useful in providing Wanderlei Silva with another venue to fight for a championship belt — because it didn’t work out for him in the light-heavyweight division, and Anderson Silva owns the middleweight class, so that’s not really an option either. It kind of sounds like Wandy is already psyching himself out for the eventual cut to 185. If he loses to Franklin in June, he may decide that it’s not even worth it.
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Comments
Mon, 03/23/09 - 08:01
It might not be worth it. Usually guys drop a weight class when they think there's an opportunity to dominate at a lighter weight. But considering his recent performances, I don't see him beating Marquardt, or Maia, or (it goes without saying) Anderson.
Mon, 03/23/09 - 08:01
@ tucker: yeah, but at least those are fights that fans want to see. i say suck it up wandy!
Mon, 03/23/09 - 08:02
poor Wandy, love seeing him fight, hope he has some good fights left in him.
Mon, 03/23/09 - 08:03
If they were to add another weight class, it needs to be super-heavyweight. But don't worry about Wandy, he's gonna be just fine at 185.
Mon, 03/23/09 - 08:10
Sounds like he is already setting him self up for failure. I still take Rich in this fight.
Mon, 03/23/09 - 08:14
I would rather see weight classes from 205-230. 231-260, and 261 +. There is just too big of a gap above 205lbs.
Mon, 03/23/09 - 08:15
I agree with anonypotamous.
Mon, 03/23/09 - 08:26
GOD i want a reason to keep my faith in Wanderlei.... Come on, man. Kill him.
Mon, 03/23/09 - 08:31
The thing I love about MMA is the simplicity of it's weight system. I would be seriously bummed if they tampered with that. I'm all for using catch weights for fighters who agree to do so. The only division that might need separating is HW. 206-265 is a bit too much of a spread. I'd like to see it cut in half. But if that never happens, it wouldn't bother me a bit. Just say "NO!" to additional weight classes. Don't let MMA get diluted like boxing.
Mon, 03/23/09 - 08:41
WAR WAND!!!
Mon, 03/23/09 - 08:42
IMO I wouldn't mind dropping 205 to 200 to make the split between MW and LHW the same as Welter to MW (170 to 185 to 200) and adding the HW and Super HW classes. But people hate change so just adding another belt at 195 for Silva to control is good enough. While I am not for a different weight class for every 5 lbs, I see no problem with breaking up the 20 lbs difference between MW and LHW.
Mon, 03/23/09 - 08:46
Wouldn't Anderson Silva just dominate this new division also? If anything, they should create a "legends" division where popular fighters can go to relive old rivalries and remain relevant. Guys like Liddell and Wanderlei aren't going to remain contenders forever...at least it would give them a place to still fight and make money. It'd be like the Senior PGA tour...except with less sympathy.
Mon, 03/23/09 - 08:47
Wandy....it's called "SlimFast". Go get some, OK? Sure, your farts will smell like rancid horse meat, but I have a feeling that your gaseous emitions aren't exactly smellin' like roses to begin with. ...just a hunch.
Mon, 03/23/09 - 08:50
Belt or no belt, he's too small for LHW. He'll end up cutting to MW whether he likes it or not.
Mon, 03/23/09 - 08:52
To add to the Legends division idea...some of the "name" fighters still have big time marketability. So instead of pitting Anderson Silva and Chuck Liddell against "fighters gunning for victory" they could fight other top name guys. You could even create a legends title if it makes you feel happy.
Mon, 03/23/09 - 08:54
lol, yeah I meant A. Silva would dominate it not Wandy Silva.
Mon, 03/23/09 - 08:54
Anyone under 200 lbs. shouldnt be allowed to fight period.
Mon, 03/23/09 - 08:57
Holy shit!!!!! TUF Guy actually commented on something without flaming. That ferret in your ass must have been good to you this morning eh big guy!
Mon, 03/23/09 - 09:00
Hey, I thought you weighed less than 200lbs?
Mon, 03/23/09 - 09:09
his MOUTH weighs 200 pounds.
Mon, 03/23/09 - 10:11
TUF Guy's mouth weights 200lbs after im all bunched up in his grill......
Mon, 03/23/09 - 10:31
Light Heavy Weight Division = 205 Cruiserweight division = 225 Heavy Weight Division = 230-265 This is the only change that needs to be made.
Mon, 03/23/09 - 10:36
I think Wandy has a great idea! I think this would be something akin to Cruiserweight in boxing. While they could call it Cruiserweight in the UFC, I would prefer they title this 195 lb. division the Guys-Who-Are-Not-Quite-Good-Enough-to-Hold-Belts-in-MW-or-LHW-or-Are-Too-Lazy-to-Sit-on-a-Bike-in-a-Sauna Weight Class. In this newly created division, Wanderlei Silva, Rich Franklin, and Dan Henderson could constantly join in a round-robin tournament for a belt that doesn't quite have the meaning of the belts from the real weight classes. In fact, other MW fighters could derogatorily refer to the 195 lb. belt as "The Ruedigar." Guest appearances from Nate Marquardt and Michael Bisping are expected very soon.
Mon, 03/23/09 - 10:37
"Myles Kilometers Says: Mon, 03/23/2009 - 08:46 Wouldn't Anderson Silva just dominate this new division also? If anything, they should create a "legends" division where popular fighters can go to relive old rivalries and remain relevant. Guys like Liddell and Wanderlei aren't going to remain contenders forever...at least it would give them a place to still fight and make money. It'd be like the Senior PGA tour...except with less sympathy." ^what he said^
Mon, 03/23/09 - 10:59
I like where people are going with the idea of a Legends Division. I think the problem would be that their are only so many fighters in each weight class who could qualify. There are probably the most "Legends" at LHW, but you start to see a problem for someone like Matt Hughes. It would be nice to see these guys fighting their contemporaries, though. The Legends should simply be retained on contracts that allow them to fight in one-off super-fights from time to time that can fill out cards that are lacking depth. If a card is headlined by a relatively weak undercard, I wouldn't mind seeing Wand fight Liddell again for a decent payday for the two of them. Or even Couture vs. Liddell. Guys like Liddell, Couture, Wandy, Hughes, and others could just engage in some fights that would be interesting to fans, but not really have consequences in their weight classes. Now I am thinking about how you could do this for Hughes, and I could even see a super-fight added where Hughes takes on Dennis Hallman, to close out the one major blemish on his career (I don't consider losses to BJ Penn and GSP huge blemishes, and it is clear he was already on the downslide during the Alves loss). Or even a Hughes vs. Parisyan match a couple years down the road, for the title fight that never happened. And Hughes could always get people to watch him choke out Frank Trigg again.
Mon, 03/23/09 - 12:25
Ample Says: Mon, 03/23/2009 - 10:11 TUF Guy's mouth weights 200lbs after im all bunched up in his grill...... ***************************************************** Congrats, you just came out of the closet on a MMA comment section.
Mon, 03/23/09 - 01:18
To true
Mon, 03/23/09 - 01:32
TUF Guy only makes 200 pounds when he has two black dicks in his ass and one in his mouth. In other words, right before breakfast.
Mon, 03/23/09 - 01:33
What's with the whole "dillute the sport" thing? Wouldn't adding more weight classes mean they'd also have to add more belts, and wouldn't that make for better ppvs? Fights are just so much more interesting to watch when a belt or two are on the line. I say add a couple more!
Mon, 03/23/09 - 03:13
Yes it would dilute the sport too much and a "legends" division would be a joke because fighters NEVER admit when their skills are diminished so noone would ever fight in it. Shit, look at how many guys could stop right now to stop diminishing their legacy. (Liddell, Crocop, Wanderlei, Nog, etc.)
Mon, 03/23/09 - 03:50
I think the idea of splitting HW to HW/SHW is the best idea. As the roster for UFC continues to grow, there's enough fighters to round out the two divisions. Creating a LLHW is a useless move, and I agree with the poster that believes the Spyder would dominate this division as well. Personally, I think the Spyder would own the LHW division as well, should he make the move full time. Even the LHW "champ" Evans, his only strength would be to take A. Silva to a place where he's dangerous as hell (the ground). Though I don't agree with the whole "legends" category... there's too few fighters that would qualify as such. However, an "open" division leaves endless potential matchups should the two fighters agree to terms. Similar to old school UFC with the current rules. If Wanderlei can't cut it in LHW, or can't hold the title in MW, it's his problem. He can deal with it, or move on.
Mon, 03/23/09 - 04:15
fuck tiago alves walks around at 210 and he cuts 15 more pounds than wandy would have to
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