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I think Silva is coming down from his prime and is a fight or two away from being removed as the champion. This fight is going to make a statement as to where he is in his career physically and mentally.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 12:56 PM ET  02.02 by JimJ77 Can't make it up

MMA fans have been spoiled by Randy Couture, a man defying the odds, somehow able to compete at a high level well into his 40's. That's almost unheard of in the entire history of professional athletics. For an athlete like Silva, one who relies heavily on natural gifts of speed and astounding reflexes, time is a fighter's most fearsome foe. Against Chael Sonnen you can survive a mistake and live to finish the fight. Against Vitor Belfort? The same kind of punch that knocks you down when thrown by Chael Sonnen knocks you out when thrown by "the Phenom."There is a real chance that Anderson Silva loses this fight. And if that happens, I hope fans and pundits take a reasoned approach to discussion of his legacy and achievements. Anderson Silva is one of the five best fighters in the history of this sport. Where he falls in the pantheon of greats is up for debate - his status as a legend isn't.In sports, everyone gets old eventually. We've seen Brett Favre prone on the field gasping in pain. We've seen Michael Jordan inexplicably in the blue jersey of the Washington Wizards, limping up and down the court yelling at teammates and looking like a grumpy old man. We've seen Muhammad Ali beaten and battered by the likes of Trevor Berbick.With rare exceptions, all the great ones leave their sport of choice humbled and beaten. None of that diminishes what they've accomplished before. Anderson Silva has been a transcendent figure in mixed martial arts. When the day comes that he finally succumbs to age, injury, or even a better fighter, I hope we give him his due.

wow, this is some really good stuff. I just hope people remember Silva as a champion not just a fighter and how he approached the game with his all round skills. He is a rare champion that has dominated and showed his will when things got rough especially late in his career.

QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 01:05 PM ET  02.02 by JimJ77 Can't make it up

I'm just hoping for a great fight this Saturday. But I also thought the same thing as Snowden watching the fight against Sonnen. Anderson looked slower than usual and Sonnen took it to him standing. Anderson of old would've never let that happen.

My only question is how much did the rib injury actually hurt him. Plus Chael being all roid up really make him that much stronger. It did look like some thing was wrong because his last fight with Mia Silva looked quick, sharp and defended the take down easy. Maybe he didnt take Chael serious but I do have a lot of questions about that fight but like Silva said he isnt a man of excuses like Ortiz.

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 01:13 PM ET  02.02 by JimJ77 Can't make it up

I think any true fan has to know, if Anderson loses Saturday, that he's still one of the greatest fighters the sport has ever seen.

I agree, every great player or figher has to come to an end, I just hope he can gives us a couple more fights. Regardless he is going down as one of the best ever in MMA or the greatest MW champion of all time.

Come on now guys. This is ridiculous!
You two speak like Silva had a heart attack or pooped his pants.

Let's cut the crap.
Silva did not look bad against Sonnen. he was simply injured.
Silva noted his gameplan was to let sonnen take him down and then look for a submission.
Silva, while being GnP'ded for 5 full rounds was NEVER really in trouble. It is not like Sonnen had him mounted or bloodied. Actually, if you saw both faces, sonnes looked way more battered than Silva.

So let's not pull the plug just yet.

And note: while I don't think this will be an easy fight, we should know by now that there's no unbeatable fighter.

But please, stop killing all fighters above the age of 30.

BJP lost twice to Frankie but nobody said he is getting old or slower...

Fedor lost a fight because he was caught by someone who is simply an excellent BJJ fighter. Could have happened a lot of times during his career.

Silva was dominated but was NEVER in danger of being KO'd or have the referee stopped the fight. Hell man, if anything, the fact he was dominated and on the bottom for 5 full rounds and still had presence of mind to get the sub and moreover, he was not gassed!!! Show me other fighters who would take such a beating for so long and would be game for one more round!!! Exactly!

So IMO win or lose this weekend, Silva has NOT slowed down!

My thoughts on this:

- If Anderson was indeed injured against Sonnen then I don't see what the big deal is.

- To have a guy like Sonnen on top of you for 5 rounds and then to pull out that triangle choke... to me, worried as I was watching the fight, showed technique and heart (even if Sonnen's submission defense is terrible).

- Everyone declines due to age. But why talk about it before saturday? Let's wait and see first. The guy who wrote this article (and it's a good article, don't get me wrong) is talking as if Anderson has been KOed twice or thrice in a row, like Liddell was.

- I personally think that, decline or no decline, Belfort is stylistically good for Anderson. I would be more worried about Silva's title reign if it were Okami standing in his way at UFC 126.

- The article focuses on Anderson Silva and one undeniable fact: he's turning 36 in April. But, at the same time, it speaks of Belfort as if he were still in his prime. Wake up, Belfort turns 34 himself in April and hasn't fought in more than a year!

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 02:54 PM ET  02.02 by Roni

But please, stop killing all fighters above the age of 30.

You? Me? Done! Finito! Finished! Acabados! Se foi! :D

There's also something else: Belfort's weight cutting. Has always been a problem.

QUOTE(#13):

Originally posted 04:44 PM ET  02.02 by Hyped78

You? Me? Done! Finito! Finished! Acabados! Se foi! :D

hahaha we are mummies...

QUOTE(#15):

Originally posted 04:59 PM ET  02.02 by Roni

hahaha we are mummies...

Was that some kind of reference to what is happening in Egypt?!?!?! :D

QUOTE(#16):

Originally posted 05:02 PM ET  02.02 by JimJ77 Can't make it up

Belfort by KO.

I personally don't have anything against Belfort but, up to this point, he's that guy who was supposed to grow into one of the world's best fighters, but never did. Always came short when it mattered.

This is his last chance.