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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Anderson Silva pulled attention back to himself on Monday, as he said in an interview with Tatame.com that he wasn't going to call out Georges St-Pierre at UFC 154 this weekend, and wasn't planning on returning to action until late in 2013.
Silva cited several things outside of fighting that he'd like to do over the next year, including a movie role and spending time with his family. It's an idea that puts the UFC's plans for the year in jeopardy, not just for a super fight with Georges St-Pierre, but in the middleweight division as well.
Potential challenger Michael Bisping reacted to the interview on Monday, petitioning for his January bout with Vitor Belfort in Brazil to be for an Interim UFC Middleweight Championship if Silva's going to be out for a considerable amount of time.
Said Bisping, in a comment directed at UFC President Dana White on Twitter, "If Anderson wants to take time off to be a movie star make me and Vitor for the interim title?"
Penick's Analysis: I don't have a problem with Interim Titles on the surface, but that's only if they're defended. Carlos Condit didn't defend the title he won in February, entirely negating its relevance prior to Saturday's UFC 154 event. Renan Barao plans on waiting out Dominick Cruz, once again negating the reason an Interim Title exists in the first place. Though Silva may be out of action for a time, his return fight could still come against GSP even if it's later in the year. If that's going to be the case, and Interim Middleweight Title makes sense, but it won't be in the Bisping-Belfort fight. The winner of that bout would likely fight the winner of Chris Weidman vs. Tim Boetsch, and if Silva's not going to be fighting in the division anytime soon, that fight can be for an Interim Title. Of course, the winner should then actually defend the title at least once before Silva returns to the division, otherwise it's another nonsensical belt.
[Michael Bisping art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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