UFC
UFC Champ Anderson Silva out until 2013; GSP, Weidman possible for return bout
Aug 12, 2012 - 3:10:15 PM UFC Champ Anderson Silva out until 2013; GSP, Weidman possible for return bout

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Chris Weidman may be able to get the next shot against Anderson Silva, but it depends on how long he's willing to sit on the sidelines. He was hoping to face Silva before the end of the year, but according to UFC President Dana White, the Middleweight Champion won't be back in the Octagon in 2012.

Speaking with reporters following UFC 150 on Saturday night in Denver, White revealed that Silva has requested some time off following his win over Chael Sonnen in July, and he won't be fighting until early 2013.

"Anderson said he wants to take some time off until after the end of this year, we'll start talking to him," White said (via MMAWeekly.com. "[Weidman's] going to have to wait or fight because Anderson's going to fight after the beginning of the year."

Weidman may be best served taking at least one more fight, as he may not be the first option come the end of the year. If Georges St-Pierre defeats Carlos Condit this November in his return to action, a bout with Silva in 2013 is a fight that all parties - and the UFC - seem very interested in putting together.

Penick's Analysis: If Silva were fighting this fall or early winter, I'd have been all for Weidman getting that title shot. That would have made perfect sense from a timing standpoint, but with Silva staying out until after the new year, that complicates things for Weidman. It depends on how long into 2013 Silva is looking to be out, of course, but if St-Pierre has a good performance against Carlos Condit, and doesn't have any injury setbacks, it's not unreasonable for that fight to happen by April. I don't think GSP would be prepared to bounce back any quicker than that, given the magnitude of the fight, but April or May would make sense if that's the fight that's going to happen. If St-Pierre loses, or suffers an injury, or too much damage against Condit, then I'd expect to see Silva on Super Bowl weekend against one of the challengers in the middleweight division.