(It’s completely involuntary at this point — even when somebody tries to pat Anderson on the back, he slips it.)
Anderson Silva has beaten up enough middleweights, right? We can all agree on that? Now that he’s finished his toughest rival for the second time, the UFC legend is looking ahead to a pack of potential challengers — including Michael Bisping*, Hector Lombard**, and Mark Munoz*** — who, frankly, wouldn’t pose many challenges that Silva hasn’t already met and overcome. And with his competitive days running out, don’t we want to see Anderson in a super-fight against somebody who might actually give him a run for his money?
Well, Jon Jones doesn’t want to be that guy, so stop asking. During an appearance on ESPN’s Max & Marcellus show yesterday (via BleacherReport), the UFC’s light-heavyweight champ laid out exactly why he’s not interested in a date with the Spider. And while you might not appreciate the explanation, you have to respect his honesty. Maybe. Here’s what he said:
“It’s not that he won’t fight me or I won’t fight him. To be dead honest, it’s that we both have a lot to lose and we both respect each other a lot and we both are striving for personal greatness. I don’t want to crack on his greatness and I don’t want him cracking on my greatness. We’re in completely different weight classes. We both have sponsor deals and things that are really important to us and a big part of that sponsorship package is being a winning…being a champion. Having us fight each other means one of our championships goes away. I respect Anderson Silva so much that I don’t want to be the guy to beat him. I don’t want to lose to him either. It’s a lose-lose situation for me.”
In other words, losing is bad for business. Also, some crap about “respect,” but I think we get the point. For the record, Anderson Silva also has no interest in a fight with Jones — but UFC president Dana White hasn’t given up hope yet. “[Silva] said he wouldn’t fight Chael again, either,” White told USA Today. ”The two times he went to 205, it wasn’t because he wanted to, it was because I asked him to…Let’s see what happens.”
Anybody think Dana can strong-arm two of his champions into giving the fans a super-fight for the ages? Or has Jones convinced you that this fight would do more harm than good?
* The British Rich Franklin, basically.
** The Cuban Vitor Belfort, basically.
*** The Filipino-American Chael Sonnen, basically.
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Cagepotato Comments
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commentsSure there was Rorion Gracie as a partial cofounder - yet hit was not his father, he was just one of 28 investors, and that didn't help him in the ring during multiple fights. True grit and better technique pulled him through.
Jones lost much respect today from me with that pansy ass comment. You call him a Labron, but until he wants to fight all the players on the court, his just a kid with only 4 title defenses. Compared to GSP, or Silva he's still DUI wet and reckless behind the ears.
Labron plays with all players on the court, Jones refuses. What message does that really convey? To many it's that he is not as great as you might want to believe.
B. those were displays of fighters with fictional resumes fighting the only guy with real training
C. His family owned the promotion. And you say Zuffa is crooked?
Otherwise, jones is the first generation mma fighter whose gone the MBA, nfl, MLB, sell out. He's labron, stack the deck so I can claim greatness.
Prehistoric being UFC 1, was in November 1993, I think boxing has had a history dating much longer than 19 years filled unlimited rounds, and bare knuckle competitions.
My point with Gracie was meant to be more subtle, simply he never dodged a obvious fight when he was champion.
Basically, they can still pull in the dough without fighting eachother AKA busting a Mayweather(ducking fights, not beating up females). I get it. Classic case of "don't hate the player, hate the game". My issue is with them giving these bullshit reasons why. Respect? Riiiight. Bones claims they're striving for personal greatness while saying they don't want to crack eachother's greatness. Huh?
Just keep it real, playas.
Don't think silva or jones are scared of each other , they just realize that they are both in a position . In which a super fight Lke that would not benefit either. Which is true cause it's not about belts , it's about dominance
Speaking of hypocrites, when Jones says "to be completely honest"... Yeah. That.
Do the fighters dictate who they fight, or does the UFC decides who fights, someone must be in charge?
Listening to Jones, sounds as if he is speaking for Dana White and the UFC interests first.
Let's not forget that all those sponsors Jones is so afraid of losing, first have to pay the UFC direct before they can become even remotely affiliated with each fighter.
It is just like coming out and saying one palm must be greased, before greasing the fighter, or was that UFC 148?
And why can't they have a catch weight non-title fight? If that is too threatening, head gear is available.