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[dbader08]

Isn't it kind of hard to have "something to gain" when your the champ?

Getting paid millions of dollars every fight is your "something to gain" when your in that position.

[trustkill]

Cung Le on talk of fighting Anderson Silva: 'I'm totally open for it' - MMA Fighting

Who will Anderson Silva fight next? That seems to be one of the biggest mysteries in MMA today. Will it be Chris Weidman? How about a champion vs. champion matchup against Strikeforce kingpin Luke Rockhold? Could Rashad Evans drop down to face him? Those seem to be the candidates receiving the most buzz, but over the weekend, a wild card emerged in the form of Cung Le.

That possibility came from Silva's manager Ed Soares, who admitted even while saying it that he didn't know whether it was a fight that would interest the UFC.

The mention flattered Le, who has been idle since his Nov. 10 knockout win against Rich Franklin. The 40-year-old, who has one foot planted in the fight world and the other in Hollywood, is in a position where he can pick the path of his future, and he admitted that a fight with Silva is something that would interest him.

"If the UFC wants me to fight after our discussion, I’m totally open for it," he said on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour.

But Le didn't exactly campaign for his name to be added to the mix, and he certainly didn't put out the vibe that he would push for it now, either.

Le said that's partly because of his personality, which has never been the smack-talking type, and has always more resembled the stereotypical respectful martial artist. But it's also because he feels he will have good career options regardless of whether the fight comes.

"For me, I don’t mind either way," he said. "I’m just happy that I’m in the mix. There’s a lot of great fighters out there. Chris, Luke Rockhold is another name that people should watch out for. I’m open for whatever. Whether it’s fighting, coaching or doing movies."

Le, who said he has three movies in various stages of production, plans to take his fight career as far as it can go, but with realizations about the limitations of what an aging body can do.

Prior to his last fight with Franklin, for example, Le (9-2) suffered two significant injuries during training camp. Six weeks before the bout, his elbow locked up, requiring a secret surgery to remove bone spurs. Then, about one month before the fight, he suffered a sparring injury that caused his foot to swell up.

Le actually saw the setbacks as positives as they allowed him to take time off, allowing his body to rest.

He might not be able to get away with that against Silva, the long-reigning middleweight king, especially because agility is needed to beat him. He says being able to "stick and move and go after him" is the key to beating Silva, and that instead of fighting to survive like others have done, he'd fight to win.

So, he would be willing to take the fight if he was approached, and if he had enough time to prepare his mind and body. That would check off one of the two remaining goals in his career; the other being a coaching stint on The Ultimate Fighter.

All of it right now is purely speculative. If it doesn't happen, he'll move on to consider whatever it is that is offered to him. And if it does?

"If the fight would ever happen, I wouldn’t be scared because he’s pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world," he said. "I’d be excited to see how I do, whether I get beat up or whatever. It doesn't matter. That’s why we compete. That's why we challenge ourselves. That's what makes us who we are, and I love the challenge."

Shit. My gut tells me this fight might actually happen. Pathetic, of course, but maybe they'll put it on TV to help build a Silva super-fight.

[Cat--Smasher]

Despite Silva 'avoiding it at all costs,' Weidman hopeful for July title shot

Despite Silva 'avoiding it at all costs,' Weidman hopeful for July title shot | News

"It seems like he's avoiding it at all costs at this point," Weidman told MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps) on Saturday in Chicago. "I'm a big, strong, young, athletic wrestler with good submissions. I think it's a bad matchup for him, I think he knows that, and he's making millions of dollars outside the cage being the undefeated UFC champion – untouchable. And if Chris Weidman, who a lot of people don't know, goes in there and takes that away from him, it's not good for him."...

"I really wanted that fight with Boetsch," Weidman said. "I think it was a good time for me to shine, and it really just solidified the fact that I want Anderson Silva. But I think everything happens for a reason. Somehow, I'm back in this position of being No. 1 contender again with Bisping losing."

Weidman began asking for Silva after his devastating knockout win over Mark Munoz in July. He picked up a "Knockout of the Night" bonus in the main event on FUEL TV and stayed unbeaten.

But back then, he was hearing Silva wanted to sit out until 2013 following his win over Chael Sonnen the week prior.

"Before my Boetsch fight, I wanted to fight him straight up, right away," he said. "He said he didn't want to fight until 2013. I had elbow surgery, and then he took the fight with Stephan Bonnar in 2012, out of nowhere, and I ended up getting the Boetsch fight."

Buzz has been that Silva and his camp would like a fight with Cung Le.

"I mean, I guess if I was him, I'd rather fight him (than me), too," Weidman said. "I mean, no disrespect to Cung Le, but that's a good matchup for him. I think if Dana White wants (me fighting Silva) to happen and the UFC wants to make it happen, it'll happen. But it's a little different with Anderson, him being who he is."

But as for that July timetable, Weidman has things pretty well plotted out. Put simply, in his ideal world, he'd fight Silva in July, win the title, see MMA legislation passed in his home state of New York, and give Silva his rematch on his home turf.

"I just had shoulder surgery and I'm two months in from the operation, and in another two months I'll be 100 percent," he said. "So I'm looking at July 4 weekend, Anderson Silva, and give him an immediate rematch in November at Madison Square Garden."

[Kimbo> Rampage]

If they actually made the Le fight...

The only guys that Deserve the shot at this point are Weidman and Rockhold...

If Lombard beats Okami, then add him.

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

If they book Anderson/Le in China, they'll draw record attendence and make history, which would be a pretty massive spectacle to behold. Other than that, I think it's a pretty silly matchup.

[0mega1]

Originally Posted by TheDoucheyWun

I think Anderson look's at Weidman like Chael but younger with better strikes bigger power and a better subs...Yep would be scary.

Yeah, cause that 2nd fight with Chael was a real tough one for Anderson.

C'mon man, Anderson and scared shouldnt even be in the same sentence. Is he being a "prima donna" with all of this hand picking opponents? Yes, he is. Unfortunately for Weidman he does not have a big name. Which, is exactly what Anderson wants. Big name/big money fights.


Anderson being scared that a fucking joke.

[joeodd2]

Ok I'm sick of hearing how Weidman is the best guy short of Silva in the MW division. He beat Munoz, ok. But I'm not convinced he's the best contender. Lets see him fight Lombard or Cung Le and then, if he can destroy one of those fighters, I would consider him the top dog. There's probably one or two other fighters he could fight as well, like Vitor or Rockhold. Jacare could be down the line if he continues his success in the UFC. Everyones talking like Weidman has beaten all these guys..... His record is impressive, but I need to see him fight more top guys. Silva is at another level and for Dana, he only has a few fights left. Dana's not going treat anderson the same as the other champions, so get used to it.

[roaddawg]

Originally Posted by TheDoucheyWun

How the fuckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk does Anderson have nothing to gain fiighting Weidman? im sick of hearing that. The fact that Weidman is the best guy in the division Andy is king of means there is something to gain from beating him...Credibility as a fucking champion.

Talk all you want about the quantity of Silva's title defenses ...It's about all he has going cause we all know of the quality of them.

You would be better off talking about whom Weidman hasn't fought. This dude got an express pass to title contention without having to beat guys like Belcher, Bisping, Henderson, Sonnen, Stann, Okami and most importantly Vitor whom I think would wipe the floor with him.

I am equally sick of hearing people blow up Weidman like he is the great white hope. If the UFC loses money on this fight I'm lmao. Equally if Weidman gets KTFO by the end of the 2nd I will br dying to see which wrestler people suddenly clamor to next.

I still remember when Sonnen vs Silva II happened not a single person here was talkinga bout Weidman. It's funny to me because fight fans can't stand to see a dominant champion. I don't know if its jealousy or envy but fans always want to see a champion fall by any means necessary.

I take personal comfort in knowing that even if Silva loses his next couple of fights noone will ever come close to his dominance and pulling off the kind of highlite reel finishes he has. Like Mike Tyson and RJJ Silva's legacy is written in stone.

[Sniggles]

Anderson wants to have an irrelevant one-sided sparring match with Cung Le while getting paid millions.

It's a better idea than fighting off your back for 22 minutes while hoping for that same submission he caught Chael with then not pulling it off.

[Cat--Smasher]

Cung Le Was as Surprised as Dana White About a Possible Anderson Silva Bout
Cung Le Was as Surprised as Dana White About a Possible Anderson Silva Bout | Fighters.com

Le told Fightline.com:

“I wasn’t thinking much about it until my name got thrown in the hat. For me, being a martial artist and always wanting to challenge myself, that would be one of the greatest challenges of my career and probably my life if it ever happened.”

If not Silva, who would he like to fight?

“I’m not one of those guys who is like, ‘Oh, I’ve got to fight him, I’ve got to fight him, I’ve got to fight him.’ I’ve got nothing to prove to anyone, I just like to compete. I compete for myself and the fans. Whoever it is, I go out there and do my best. It’s just who they put me against.”

Le also had some advice for youngsters who want to become MMA fighters:

“My first advice is, you’re not going to step inside a ring or an Octagon until you’re completely prepared. Of course, a little stepping stone is doing a lot of tournaments – let’s get into wrestling, let’s get into jiu-jitsu. Just be a complete martial artist before you go in there and try to compete at an amateur level. It’s a very tough sport.”