Silva vs. Okami

**tattoopierced1** · 07-10-2008, 02:56 PM

Manager: Anderson Silva fights Yushin Okami after July 19 fight | MMAjunkie.com

After making his light heavyweight debut against James Irvin at next week's UFC Fight Night 14 event, UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva (21-4 MMA, 6-0 UFC) will return to 185 pounds to defend his title against top contender Yushin Okami (22-4 MMA, 6-1 UFC).

Ed Soares, Silva's manager, confirmed the plans while a guest on today's edition of TAGG Radio (taggradio.com), the official radio partner of MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com).

However, Soares said that a date for the Silva-Okami fight won't be determined until after the July 19 fight with Irvin.

Silva and Soares want to have a better idea of the fighter's health status before committing to a date for the fight with Okami. (However, sources close to the event tell TAGG Radio and MMAjunkie.com that the UFC has tentatively targeted UFC 88, which takes place Sept. 6 in Atlanta, for the fight.)

Silva, who's 6-0 in the UFC (with six stoppages), has made short work of the UFC's middleweight division, posting three consecutive title defenses (and a victory over Travis Lutter in a non-title affair) after defeating former champ Rich Franklin for the title in October 2006.

When the UFC needed a headliner for UFC Fight Night 14 to counter Affliction's debut show (a star-studded affair that also takes place July 19), Silva agreed to take it. The UFC and Spike TV have since launched a marketing campaign that lets fans know they can watch "the world's best fighter" on free basic cable. "Banned," meanwhile, comes with a $39.95 pay-per-view fee.

However, Soares, who also manages top UFC light heavyweight contender Lyoto Machida, said that Silva doesn't expect to make a run at the 205-pound title, and instead, will only move up when it satisfies their goal of "being involved in some of the biggest fights in UFC history."

"[Silva] doesn't want to make a run at the (light-heavyweight) championship because his friend Lyoto is in the line for it," Soares said. "He doesn't want to fight Lyoto, and Lyoto doesn't want to fight him."

Despite his perfect 13-0 overall record and 5-0 mark in the UFC, Machida likely won't get the first crack at new UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin, who won the title this past weekend at UFC 86. Soares said that Machida will likely have "one more fight" before he gets a shot at the belt. (Soares said Machida's fight will take place in October, an opponent has been determined, but it hasn't yet been signed.)

As for Silva, Soares repeatedly stressed that he wants his fights to be "events."

"We'll take it one step at a time," Soares said. "But what he's looking forward to fighting the best in the world and creating events. At this point in his career, he wants every fight to be an event."

The 205-pound division could provide that with superstars such as Chuck Liddell, Quinton Jackson and Griffin providing interesting and marketable fights with Silva.

However, Soares said the middleweight division will remain Silva's focus.

"As the (middleweight) contenders come up, he's still going to defend the belt," Soares said.

Soares also gave updates on clients Paulo Filho and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira during today's segment. To hear the full interview, download today's edition of TAGG Radio, available for free in the TAGG Radio archives.

jas123 · 07-10-2008, 03:38 PM

Good. I'm glad to see Okami get a shot at him. He's a wrestler so we'll see what Silva has for him. Their last fight was pretty short.

Skeetopunk01 · 07-11-2008, 06:24 AM

Okami has got nothing for Silva. If he couldn't get through Franklin what makes you think he's got a chance now. It's going to be a slaughter!

jas123 · 07-11-2008, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skeetopunk01

Okami has got nothing for Silva. If he couldn't get through Franklin what makes you think he's got a chance now. It's going to be a slaughter!

Did you see his fight with Franklin? He basically sleep walked through the first 2 rounds and then dominated Franklin hard when he woke up. Franklin didn't do much at all either. By Pride judging, Okami would have won. I'm not saying Okami has a great chance, but he's far from the can that you make him sound like.

Skeetopunk01 · 07-14-2008, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jas123

Did you see his fight with Franklin? He basically sleep walked through the first 2 rounds and then dominated Franklin hard when he woke up. Franklin didn't do much at all either. By Pride judging, Okami would have won. I'm not saying Okami has a great chance, but he's far from the can that you make him sound like.

I did... he couldn't even get the decision against Franklin. Lets not forget Franklin got murdered twice by Silva. What the hell is Okami going to bring to this fight? This will be yet another slaughter for Silva and probably a boring fight as well. Okami doesn't go for the kill and he's too conservative.

Reaper329 · 07-14-2008, 05:54 AM

Okami is not a can, and we cannot use MMA math when looking at fights skeet

jas123 · 07-14-2008, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skeetopunk01

I did... he couldn't even get the decision against Franklin. Lets not forget Franklin got murdered twice by Silva. What the hell is Okami going to bring to this fight? This will be yet another slaughter for Silva and probably a boring fight as well. Okami doesn't go for the kill and he's too conservative.

Okami's a wrestler who's good on the ground. Rich was big and strong enough to neutralize many of his TD attempts. Rich tried to strike with Silva while Okami will not and Silva's TD defense hasn't been that great (his guard has looked solid, though).

You can't judge matchups by how 2 people do against someone else, at least not to the extent that you're doing it. You also need to be somewhat conservative against Silva because he can capitalize so quickly on a mistake (see Henderson getting into a wild exchange with him and getting hurt quickly). Silva's the favorite, but he still needs to prove himself against wrestlers.

MentalTwitch · 07-18-2008, 08:41 PM

Oh man, silva is going to put some pain on Okami. I forgot about this even being on TV cause affliction, its tough to compete with a Fedor fight...
Silva - 2nd rd. TKO

Skeetopunk01 · 07-18-2008, 08:45 PM

I agree... Silva going to put a lot of pain on Okami.

Skeetopunk01 · 07-21-2008, 01:53 AM

So Okami won't be taking this fight due to injury which leaves Cote. Silva will destory him too! I think Silva needs to get a few more fights with LHW contenders such as Wanderlei or Chuck. This would be highly entertaining.

Reaper329 · 07-21-2008, 08:41 AM

COte has nothing for Silva, and I mean nothing. I like Cote and he does have heavy ahnds, but that fight will be over in a minute or 2. Besides Okami, there is little left at 185 for Silva. Time to move on up at 205 and take on some of their top tier. Most of which, I think he will beat

MentalTwitch · 07-22-2008, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaper329

COte has nothing for Silva, and I mean nothing. I like Cote and he does have heavy ahnds, but that fight will be over in a minute or 2. Besides Okami, there is little left at 185 for Silva. Time to move on up at 205 and take on some of their top tier. Most of which, I think he will beat

I want him to move up but i dont want him to get fat and slow. It seems he wont put much size on arms/legs due to style of fighting and training. If he pushes to far past his "walking weight" i think itll only hurt him. But gives his strikes more power....
Either way whoever faces him is screwed.

jas123 · 07-22-2008, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MentalTwitch

I want him to move up but i dont want him to get fat and slow. It seems he wont put much size on arms/legs due to style of fighting and training. If he pushes to far past his "walking weight" i think itll only hurt him. But gives his strikes more power....
Either way whoever faces him is screwed.

Dude, did you see him on Saturday at 205? He wasn't fat or slow. I honestly thought he looked a little bigger than Irvin.

CryingEmo · 07-22-2008, 05:06 PM

Okami needs to focus on his flying submission attacks ala dave camarillo.

Mulletsoldier · 07-22-2008, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MentalTwitch

I want him to move up but i dont want him to get fat and slow. It seems he wont put much size on arms/legs due to style of fighting and training. If he pushes to far past his "walking weight" i think itll only hurt him. But gives his strikes more power....
Either way whoever faces him is screwed.

Silva walks around at ~215 from what I hear, and begins pre-fight preparations early. At 205 he looked just as agile and quick as 185, but with more power.