UFC
Dana White still thinks Anderson Silva will fight both GSP and Jon Jones before his career is over
Dec 7, 2012 - 10:25:43 AM Dana White still thinks Anderson Silva will fight both GSP and Jon Jones before his career is over

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Georges St-Pierre's desire to fight Nick Diaz looks like it will once again push off a superfight with Anderson Silva. But despite the seeming inability to get these superfights booked to this point, UFC President Dana White refuses to rule them out.

Speaking about Anderson Silva's future prospects after breaking the news of a likely GSP-Diaz bout, White said he still expects to see Silva against both GSP and Jon Jones before he walks away from the sport.

"[Silva] could fight either one of them," White said after the pre-fight press conference on Thursday (transcribed by MMAFighting.com. "I think he'll fight them both before his career is over."

As for Silva's immediate future, it's hard to say what's coming. He's sent out lots of mixed messages in the media about his career, about who he wants to fight, about when he wants to fight, and so there's no clear timetable or opponent now for his next bout. But White thinks the mixed signals are part of Silva's game, and he says the behind-the-scenes Silva is a very different animal indeed.

"Anderson Silva is a guy that likes to challenge himself," White said. "And I think he likes to f*** with you guys, to be honest with you. I'll read something and I'll be like, 'What the f***? He said that?' I think he just plays with you guys because the conversations we have behind the scenes are completely different then what is said publicly. And when has Anderson Silva never stepped up to the plate and done what we've asked him or needed him to do?"

Penick's Analysis: The UFC is going to get into dangerous territory promising fights like Silva-GSP or Silva-Jones when they're in actuality delivering some head scratchers in an attempt to grab viewers right now. As for Silva himself, not getting the GSP fight means a likely Middleweight Championship fight by summer of 2013, and I think it's fairly clear he'll be fighting the winner of Michael Bisping vs. Vitor Belfort from January. Those are the biggest selling fights in that division, and because Chris Weidman is out injured they'd also be legitimate contenders as well. Especially Bisping, as he would be the clear No. 1 contender with a win over Belfort given the win over Brian Stann and how competitive his fight with Chael Sonnen was.

[Anderson Silva art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]