(Forrest Griffin’s July 2008 interview with StrictlyFighting is suddenly relevant again. Skip to the 0:30 mark for Griffin’s thoughts on the Spider moving up to light-heavy.)

Both MMA Junkie and MMA Bay are independently reporting that UFC 101 (August 8th, Philadelphia) will host a semi-superfight between middleweight champ Anderson Silva and former light-heavyweight champ Forrest Griffin. It would be Silva’s first match at 205 pounds since his 61-second knockout of James Irvin last July — which also happened to be the last time Anderson was entertaining. If this rumor holds up, it would mean the following:


– Demian Maia‘s gonna have to wait a while for his title shot, and may take another fight in the meantime.
- Thiago Silva, who was slated to face Forrest Griffin at the event, is now without an opponent. As of this morning, Thiago was still unaware that his fight had been scratched, according to MMA Junkie.
- My God, could we see Anderson Silva in an exciting fight again? Please!?

The word is that verbal agreements are in place for the Silva/Griffin scrap, though it’s not officially signed yet. Not exactly known as a timid fighter, Griffin could be the perfect remedy for the Spider’s recent uninvolved performances, and he fits nicely with Silva’s desire to only take "the biggest fights possible" from now on. The light-heavyweight feature would pump up a card that’s already being headlined by the highly-anticipated lightweight title fight between BJ Penn and Kenny Florian. Man, you Philadelphians get all the good stuff!

Reminder: Voting for our Never Surrender caption contest ends in about 90 minutes. Will any of you break the altered/swetard tie for last place?