What to make of Wanderlei Silva?

His recent career has been a mystery. His fight with Crocop was the turning point. His style was exploited leading to him getting battered before the fight ended with a vicious IQ-point-shaving Crocop head kick. Then Dan Henderson and old rival Quinton Jackson defeat him by vicious knockouts, but in two close losses to championship caliber strikers in Liddell and Franklin he was competitive and dangerous the whole time, and he straight blasted Jardine, who is as good as nearly anyone in the division.

Three bad knockouts ya, but lets put them in perspective, Dan Henderson and Rampage have the biggest power of any fighter in the LHW in the division, and CC's headkicks maybe the strongest blows in MMA history. Even fighters with power like Chuck and Rich, who both have devastating one punch knockouts couldn't get the job done.

Wanderlei's last fight was awesome. He won that fight in some people's eyes and put on a great show. Wandy is trying to adapt his game. His hand speed is a bit slower but it is still fast enough for most in the division. I bet he would beat Rich a second time and he knows it and Rich probably knows it.

What do we make of him at this point? Is it even possible to say?

I think he could beat anyone at 185 except Anderson, Hendo, and Nate.

I doubt he will ever hold a belt again though.

I think he's got a good chance to break the top 10 at MW, that's what I voted for, he needs a solid MW fight to get him going, honestly I wouldn't mind seeing him fight Bisping, another highlight reel knockout would do Wandy good. Like Ninja said though, Anderson, Hendo and Nate would be tough for him at this point.
Akiyama???

Right now i think 185 is wide open. wandy would be a good size at 185 i think he could hold his own very well. I could see him beating nate and maia but i dunno about hendo. I also think anderson's striking is too technical for him. I could see him cracking the top 5 and maybe #3 but thats about it.

Top 10 MW. Don't see him beating Silva or Henderson but think he would have a decent shot against the other top guys

Who voted Champ? and you're underrated Nate IMO, I just don't see Wandy taking him at this point.

I would love to see Nate vs. Hendo

And wait till Vitor's in the mix guys

Maybe not. I think Nate is losing his next fight though

I don't, but they'll be a GOR for that of course

The thing is i dont think Wand will ever get an easy opponent all he does is fight the very best. I respect the hell out of wand he is a fighter's fighter but nobody has faced the competition he has in the past years. Kinda wanna see wand vs vitor 2 but i don't want to see either lose since im a fan of both.

Wanderlei is my favorite fighter but he will never be a champ again, hopefully he brings the fury at MW and we get to see him vs the very best the ufc has to offer.


btw my wife just said are you **** kidding me you wanted me to hold your daughter so you could blog about the man you want to have sex with

I went washed up. Though I admit he still could be top 10 MW, but considering the fighter that he was, I think it's a major step down.

I didn't think he looked very good vs Franklin at all(again in comparison to his old self) not nearly as aggressive or explosive as his old self, and his style is dependent on those characteristics. But with the KO's has come caution, and with age, and numerous war's has come eroded skills. That erosion of skill will only continue.

The one hope I have for him, is that he abondans the weight training. Some had said the weight cut was tough for him, then why in every training video that I saw leading up to Franklin was he in the weight room working with heavy iron? He looked way too bulked in the shoulders, and in imo may contibute to his relative lack of quickness. Lose the weight, loosen up the shoulders, become a bit more fluid, and let his natural punching power flow.

captain organic wrote:

I went washed up. Though I admit he still could be top 10 MW, but considering the fighter that he was, I think it's a major step down.

I didn't think he looked very good vs Franklin at all(again in comparison to his old self) not nearly as aggressive or explosive as his old self, and his style is dependent on those characteristics. But with the KO's has come caution, and with age, and numerous war's has come eroded skills. That erosion of skill will only continue.

The one hope I have for him, is that he abondans the weight training. Some had said the weight cut was tough for him, then why in every training video that I saw leading up to Franklin was he in the weight room working with heavy iron? He looked way too bulked in the shoulders, and in imo may contibute to his relative lack of quickness. Lose the weight, loosen up the shoulders, become a bit more fluid, and let his natural punching power flow.

+1 on your opinion of his training.