Travis Lutter on Anderson Silva: 'I Could Beat Him ... I Don't Think He's the Best'

It's hard to find anyone in the mixed martial arts world who will say anything negative about UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Widely recognized as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, people usually talk about Silva with awe in their voices.

But not Travis Lutter. Silva submitted Lutter at UFC 67 last year, but Lutter came away convinced that he'd beat Silva if they fought again. He tells Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports:

"I still think I could beat him," Lutter said of Silva, who submitted him with strikes in the second round of what became a non-title bout. "We match up wrong for each other. I don't think he's the best 185-pounder in the world other than me. Other guys would give him big problems. Matt Lindland, I think, kills him. Anderson is an incredible standup fighter. He looks like Superman on his feet. But his takedown defense is not that good and ... "

When Lutter says he and Silva "match up wrong for each other," well, that's just dumb. A more accurate assessment would be that Lutter matches up wrong for Silva. There's no reason at all that UFC would give Lutter another chance at Silva because there's no reason to believe the result would be different.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

4-10-2008 @ 12:38PM

spartamma said...

I think a healthy Lutter would beat Silva i just dont think that the UFC will give another shot at the title. Lutter gave Silva all he could handle in the first and gased in the second But, a in shape Lutter wins for sure!!

4-10-2008 @ 5:44PM

Amir said...

Ummm...what is Lutter's specialty and expertise? submissions...um...what did Anderson Silva defeat him with...that's right..a submission. Let's see, that's what I call, beating the guy at his own game. If Lutter is so good, did he not even see that triangle coming? he should keep his mouth shut and try to make weight for a change. It's embarrassing when a professional fighter can't even do that. He's lucky the UFC is even giving him another chance to fight.

4-10-2008 @ 1:44PM

michael matthews said...

i don't think so------ anderson will beat travis an in the first round early second i'll take anybodys bet on that an silva proved he pound 4 pound the best when he walked thru dan henerson nobody beats anderson silva but anderson silva an thats the bottom line cause stonecold said so .

4-10-2008 @ 7:54PM

Mark said...

Silva vs Lutter, Silva wins again. In fact I believe on Apr 19 Rich Franklin also beats Lutter. As for Lutter being gassed the last fight, well that all comes down to his training. Which he seems to have not done well. I'm also want to see GSP shut up and beat down that little arrogant Serra.

4-11-2008 @ 1:11AM

PB&J said...

There's one thing lacking with travis lutter and that would be logic. He says silva's got a great stand up game but not good takedown but he got submitted in the last fight, how does this make sense in his mind? Silva submitted Henderson, a guy who is notoriously hard to sumbit.