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Following Saturday's game-changing win for Chris Weidman over Anderson Silva at UFC 162, we asked MMATorch readers for their reactions to the event. Here's the first batch of responses:
Christian W. (via email): Boy, this sounds like one of those old Greek legends, where some invincible hero or god was too good for his own good, and his greatness/invincibility was his Achilles heel. After an amusing round and a half, Weidman did what sixteen other opponents couldn't figure out: during Silva's dancing antics (which were decidedly extreme this time) Weidman threw his punch two inches farther - instead of whiffing in front of Silva's nose, it slammed into the dancing man's face.
That's where Weidman gets the credit; yes, he KO'd a man with his hands down and balance off, but he figured out how to do that after sixteen successful runs of the Silva disco strategy - a strategy that was working until that point. Weidman attempted one takedown when he should've attempted a dozen. Was it working so well that Silva kept increasing his ridiculousness until it put him in a position that put him wide-eyed on his back? Perhaps, yes. But Weidman, who I didn't like before this fight, wasn't phased to the point of being frozen (I hope Maia was watching somewhere) and used Silva's psych-out advantage as his advantage, and that's why he has the belt.
Will Silva be all-business no-dance in the rematch? No doubt, and Weidman will need to be prepared with his takedowns. Unfortunately for both men, that finish on Saturday night will be replayed for decades. Weidman's worthiness of the belt will be questioned somewhat, especially if he loses the rematch. Silva, though, is hurt tremendously worse by this, even if he goes out and wins the rematch before Bruce Buffer has a chance to sit down ringside, people will always, always, remember Silva for that finish.
People laughed as loud as they cheered, at Silva. Yes, he had a streak like no one before him, but over that people will remember that finish. And with Jon "Silva 2.0" Jones patiently but quickly adding to his streak, it won't be long before Silva is nothing more than a five-second replay for laughs and a way to show your kids what happens when you're cocky. In ten years, will we talk about "The second-best of all time!"? No. Silva killed his legacy with pushing his antics too far, and Jones, even more than Weidman, is forever rewarded for it.
Michael G. (via email): My jaw was on the floor from the time that Weidman finished until he was handed the belt. Then I realized that Silva had to lose someday, and that he is human after all. I'm really curious to see what Silva would do as a motivated challenger if he chooses to go that route.
MMATorch Forum User cegawn: Great card from top to bottom. Enjoyed all the fights, especially Swanson-Siver, and Edgar-Oliviera. The main event KO was one of those moments that'll last in memories for years, similar to Fedor tapping to Werdum. In all honesty, though, the main event was one of the funniest fights I've ever seen. I was laughing out loud from the time Silva stood up and started clowning Weidman, to the moment it backfired spectacularly, and he got KO'd from a seemingly weak looking shot. Congrats to Weidman. Interesting to see who gets the first crack at him. Belfort's the obvious choice, but the TRT thing annoys me. Maybe the Jacare-Okami winner.
Steven C. (via Facebook): Weidman deserved to win! In the entire build up to the fight Weidman did nothing but praise Silva for his accomplishments and claiming him to be the GOAT. When they came face to face in the Octagon Silva was a classless act. Weidman extended his fist for a touch of the gloves yet Silva didnt return it, all he did was a half bow. Come on, Weidman grew up watching Silva fight and idolized him; touch his damn gloves for a show of respect. He didn't Sonnen him leading into the fight, I thought Weidman showed utmost respect and Silva could've touched gloves.
Now onto the fight itself, Silva got exactly what he deserved in a devastating knockout loss! When you showboat like that by dropping your hands and acting like your opponent is nothing shows no respect for them or what they bring to the table. Weidman is a very dangerous matchup for anyone. He has finished all of his fights with a FULL training camp and is no slouch! The lack of respect for tonight's challenger eventually led to the end of Silva's title reign.
Silva should take this as a lesson to take opponents seriously more often than not, because it is a fight and anything can happen. BIG UPS to the ALL-AMERICAN! Congrats Chris!
Darren V. (via email): I am a huge fan of Anderson Silva. The fact of the matter is Anderson Silva beat Anderson Silva. Period! His playground tactics were unwarranted in this fight. He toyed with Chris Weidman and got over confident. He had not thing to give against Silva. Chris took Anderson down and that failed. Chris was out-matched period. I have said it all along Chris Weidman is overrated. He was put in that title fight be default. If he wants to walk around like he won this fight, he is dreaming. Anderson will get his rematch and beat his ass. This was his wake up call. All you haters can bask in your glory for now so enjoy it. Anderson will get his belt back. Period!
Glen S. (via Facebook): All things considered, it was a strong card top to bottom, but none of that will matter when people look back at UFC 162 because it will be all about the main event, and specifically, how it ended. As much as Dana White wants to downplay Silva's showboating and how it cost him, he knows that most people are going to believe that it was Anderson who lost, not Weidman who won and that's the worst possible scenario. If Weidman had KO'd Silva without the dancing, there wouldn't be any rematch talk...except Dana knows that he can't market Weidman as a superstar until people believe Chris took the belt instead of Anderson giving it away. We'll see a rematch for that very reason.
Matt S. (via Facebook): A lot of people are saying Silva lost the fight more then Weidman won. That's crazy. Silva didn't trip and fall. He didn't punch himself in the face. He did exactly what he had been doing the last bunch of fights. If he would have won, everyone would have said that it was Anderson Silva being Anderson Silva. This is how he fights! Weidman took it to him and won. Weidman did what no one else could do and clipped him while he was being all "matrixy."
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
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