Anderson Silva, the best pound-for-pound MMA fighter in the world, is expected to step back into the Octagon at UFC 97 in April to defend his middleweight title against Thales Leites in Montreal.
Although UFC has made no official announcement, Intheguard.tv reports that the bout has been agreed upon by both fighters. The UFC has not officially confirmed that UFC 97 will take place in Montreal in April, but that has been widely expected.
For Silva, it's a second straight middleweight title defense against an opponent who will be a huge underdog. Silva looked bored in winning a ho-hum third-round TKO victory over Patrick Cote at UFC 90, and we can only hope we'll see a more intense version of Silva at UFC 97.
But while he is an underdog, if Leites can take the fight to the ground, he's got a shot. Leites has tremendous Brazilian jiu jitsu skills and can at least give Silva something he hasn't gotten in his last two fights: a challenge.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-23-2008 @ 10:30AM
Frederick said...
Anderson silva in my hometown is great news. I hope that there will be other good fights cuz silva vs leites is not the best match up out there
On side note I am going to UFC 94 my first trip to vegas cant wait
Reply
12-23-2008 @ 10:59AM
Lupemira said...
Dana White needs to actually give silva an opponent in Silva's skill bracket.
Reply
12-23-2008 @ 3:58PM
Eric said...
I don't really like this matchup, but I do think that Leites is a better ground fighter than Silva. Before anyone says how Silva submitted BJJ specialist Travis Lutter ... Travis was defending the triangle, but he was terribly out of shape and gave up when Silva hit him with a couple elbows.
No one at 185 can strike with Anderson, so a high-level grappler has a better chance than anyone to come away with the victory.
It's unfortunate that the UFC keeps Anderson at 185, but I can understand them not wanting to add another great fighter to an already stacked 205lb division.
I know that Marquardt already got his chance, but I would like to see him get a rematch. I felt that Marquardt won the fight with Leites and he looked incredible in his KO of Kampmann. Damien Maia is another guy I would like to see in the ring with the Spider.
Reply