Anderson Silva Wants Conor McGregor!- Breaking MMA News

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By JM “Shade” Daguio

Arguably the Greatest Mixed Martial Artist of all time, Anderson “The Spider” Silva would like to face the best opponent possible. The former UFC 10-time middleweight champ expressed his attraction to big money fights, Silva outlined his wish list of fighters he wanted to face before he eventually calls it a career.

On top of the legend’s wish is Featherweight Champ Conor McGregor, now fans and critics might be scratching their heads on why Silva wants “The Notorious” as a potential opponent. “That’s a challenge I would like to do, I’ve never asked to fight anybody, but I would like to test my martial arts skills against [Conor] McGregor. … I think McGregor is a great striker, but he didn’t do very well in his last fight because he played into Nate Diaz’s game and that’s really hard.” Silva said in an interview with Combate.

Silva clearly wants to cash in the McGregor sweepstakes but also wants to test his skills versus the Irishman. Obviously, if the fight would take place, it would be a catchweight somewhere between 175 to 180, which is definitely a possibility for bought fighters to be able to make, however from a different standpoint it would look like a circus, if one can look back to McGregor’s loss versus Nate Diaz at 170 lbs. McGregor looked huge but clearly tired in the second round, shot for a desperate takedown and eventually submitted by Diaz. Silva on the other hand, will enjoy a significant leg reach and arm reach advantage, Silva would also be the taller fighter standing 6 feet 2 inches while McGregor is at 5 feet 9 inches.

Silva may have found similarities between his fighting style and McGregor’s, which may have also been the reason why he wanted fight McGregor. Both fighters use impressive angles, both are great counterpunchers and both are violently accurate strikers, thus the astonishing amount of KO wins between the two(37 KO/TKO out of 52 wins). Although the physical advantages Silva holds will most likely put this dream matchup to it’s quiet death, this is still quite the intriguing matchup.

Silva also mentioned two other fighters that he wanted to face: Nick Diaz and Michael Bisping.

Nick Diaz (brother of the aforementioned Nate Diaz) lost to Silva via Unanimous Decision but was turned into a no-contest due to Silva testing positive. It was a carefully contested fight, Diaz mocked Silva repeatedly and even goaded the former champ go to the ground with him but Silva did not oblige but instead was content on striking from the outside. Silva was impressed with Diaz’s boxing and may want a decisive win if ever they face again.

Michael Bisping though is a different story for Silva. Bisping rocked the Brazilian in two rounds in their recent fight in London. Bisping had the edge going to the third round before Silva dropped the Brit with a flying knee just a split second before the horn sounded. Silva, however, in a very weird sequence of events, thought he had won and celebrated prematurely, the referee reminded Silva and all the parties involved that the fight was not over. Bisping seemed to have his bearings back and survive to edge out Silva in a very close fight, clearly “The Spider” wants to avenge that loss.

All three fights are great, Bisping and Diaz are possibilities in Silva’s future but the McGregor fight would seem to be the most unlikely. Silva is 40 years old and three years removed from his title loss to Chris Weidman, he will chase the best possible fights both for stylistic matchups and financial gains, all of which will cement his legacy in MMA immortality.

Anderson Silva will face Uriah Hall in Curitiba, Brazil as part of the main card of UFC 198, May 14, 2016 on pay-per-view.

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