GSP: I will fight Anderson Silva 'When I am ready and when I want the fight'

[Von Brawn]

"This fight is the cherry on the sundae. He wants to fight me so he can then retire. I would like to fight him too, but after I fight him and win the fight, what happens next? These days, yeah, there's a lot of money to be made, but I don't fight for the money. My motivation is to be the best. Like we said, to be the Wayne Gretzky of my sport. So if I fight him, what happens next? It will be over. So yes, I want the fight, but I want to take it when I decide the time is right, not when he wants the fight to happen.

On top of that, he weighs 234 pounds; I weigh 188. So there's a big weight difference. I've fought guys who were bigger -- I'm not scared of him -- it's just that I will take this fight when it makes sense for me. I just came back from an injury, there's money to be made, there are fights in my weight class, other challenges out there, and if I fight him, I will have to gain weight, while he will have to lose weight, and then afterwards, I won't be able to come back to my weight class.

First and foremost, I have things to do at 170 pounds. When I am ready and when I want the fight, that's when it will happen."

[IAmBatman]

Good.. about time somebody gave Anderson his phaggy, I'll fight when I want it. He should have told Anderson to win another big fight or two first like Anderson says to other guys.

[chucksmanhood]

GSP is scared ****less of Andy (I dont blame him one bit)

If I was GSP, I would tell Andy, I will fight you AFTER you have fought Jones (seems fair)

Andy cuts from 254, maybe back in 09 he cut from 234 but not today.

[Addthefun123123]

Let's be honest, if any of us were in GSP's position, we'd duck Anderson as much as possible too

it's unfortunate, but GSP likes where he is, so if he fights Anderson, he's afraid it will tarnish his legacy because he knows he has the odds stacked against him in that fight (mostly due to size difference)

looks like GSP/Silva is never gonna happen, might as well try to see if Silva/Jones ever materializes

[2much2gain]

How can people put these ridiculous weights on Anderson Silva, hes not even a big muscly guy, for the Bonnar fight didn't he weigh in at 202? If we was 234 he would have had weighed in right at 205/206... Guys like Chael Sonnen, Bisping & Vitor would cut a lot more weight and have a lot more muscle yet no one complains about their size.

[IAmBatman]

How can people put these ridiculous weights on Anderson Silva, hes not even a big muscly guy, for the Bonnar fight didn't he weigh in at 202? If we was 234 he would have had weighed in right at 205/206... Guys like Chael Sonnen, Bisping & Vitor would cut a lot more weight and have a lot more muscle yet no one complains about their size.

Cause they're not asking a lighter to guy to come up and fight them?

[wrstlr152]

In other words he wants to fight an older Silva so everyone can see a prime GSP out work Silva...

GSP is all about playing it safe, he is the best at 170 and wants to fight in a division where he has all the advantages... He won't allow himself to fight someone who has even a weight advantage...its sad

I don't see the reason to be afraid of Silva's weight advantage(I know Silva's weight isn't the only advantage that GSP would give up in this fight) when its GSP is the one who's going for take downs not Silva. Silva will want to keep it standing and could out muscle GSP in the clinch. Then again, if GSP allows himself to get caught in the clinch without taking Silva down its his own fault for being there in the first place.

I can't say GSP is a coward for not taking this fight because he does step in the octagon and fights...

I don't believe a word GSP says, his excuses are weak. Anyone with a brain can see he will never take this fight unless his job depended on it.

[2much2gain]

Cause they're not asking a lighter to guy to come up and fight them?

I've seen numerous people complain about Silvas size as a MW, saying he is beating up on smaller people and should fight at LHW. Also GSP saying he is 230lbs is absolutely ridiculous, he would be around 30% body fat at that weight..

I think both of them at 190lbs would be similar body fat to be honest, Silva is a fair bit taller but GSP has a lot more muscle.

[LAWLER89]

GSP is scared ****less of Andy (I dont blame him one bit)

This. That boy's shakin' in his boots. For good reason, I suppose.

But still. He's on that bullsh*t.

[jamez123]

From the same interview

These days, yeah, there's a lot of money to be made, but I don't fight for the money. My motivation is to be the best. Like we said, to be the Wayne Gretzky of my sport.

then quit ducking anderson.

[io31]

GSP is the bigger draw and he can sell title defenses at WW better than Silva can sell title defenses at MW. Silva is the guy calling out the smaller guy, so it is true that GSP has better leverage in terms of the terms of the fight. Anderson was saying that he can fight GSP at WW right before UFC 112, if he repeats that offer, there is no chance that GSP would be able to turn it down.

[dtaps24]

GSP must have been confused (he is Canadian after all), Silva actually walks around at 324.

[Jw9thwonder]

should just fight at a catch weight and get it over with

[wrstlr152]

should just fight at a catch weight and get it over with

^
This

At a catch weight no one loses their belt and the fans win by being able to see two dominant champs fight each other.

[Lifting_Taurus]

GSP and his boyfriend/ trainer want every advantage possible in this fight. He admitted he wanted Anderson to drop to 170 for the fight so he would be weaker. Now GSP wants to wait until Anderson is older and slower, and even then he'll want Anderson to cut under 185.
He makes it hard to be a fan of him.

[Dragger]

GSP must have been confused (he is Canadian after all), Silva actually walks around at 324.

I thought it was 423...

[NZDarren]

It is a very big difference in weight, would be difficult to find a weight compromise, GSP would just be fat.

[jamez123]

It is a very big difference in weight, would be difficult to find a weight compromise, GSP would just be fat.

No. GSP walks around at 190-195 lbs with ripped abs. Anderson is walking around at 210-215 chubby.

The obviously compromise, already proposed is right in the middle of the two champs weight classes - 177.5 lbs. GSP however is making excuses that his body doesn't allow him to cut ANY weight, and if he goes up even 7 lbs he can never come back down. Talk about being a diva...

[tsiparlanaeht]

Fuuuuuuu.

[Von Brawn]

No. GSP walks around at 190-195 lbs with ripped abs. Anderson is walking around at 210-215 chubby.

The obviously compromise, already proposed is right in the middle of the two champs weight classes - 177.5 lbs. GSP however is making excuses that his body doesn't allow him to cut ANY weight, and if he goes up even 7 lbs he can never come back down. Talk about being a diva...

Agreed, his weight cutting excuse is the single most stupid thing I've ever heard in a sports context.

[arian11]

Let's be honest, if any of us were in GSP's position, we'd duck Anderson as much as possible too

it's unfortunate, but GSP likes where he is, so if he fights Anderson, he's afraid it will tarnish his legacy because he knows he has the odds stacked against him in that fight (mostly due to size difference)

looks like GSP/Silva is never gonna happen, might as well try to see if Silva/Jones ever materializes

It looks like he's putting that excuse into place already and everyone is giving him that excuse on here. So how would that tarnish his legacy? If GSP loses, people will say "Oh well he is so much lighter and smaller and had to put on weight so he can't keep up with Silva". But if he wins, people will say he is the best ever and Silva just beats crappy fighters. GSP seems to have alot more upside and alot less downside from taking this fight.

In other words he wants to fight an older Silva so everyone can see a prime GSP out work Silva...

GSP is all about playing it safe, he is the best at 170 and wants to fight in a division where he has all the advantages... He won't allow himself to fight someone who has even a weight advantage...its sad

This. I think he is hoping that an older GSP will be better than an older Silva. It will be easier for him to take down Silva if he has a slower reaction time and weaker takedown defense.

[6-SPEED]

I'm not sure how well GSP would mentally recover if Silva completely dominated him. Getting beaten by Silva might send him on a downward spiral.

[rocketlove]

GSP and his boyfriend/ trainer want every advantage possible in this fight. He admitted he wanted Anderson to drop to 170 for the fight so he would be weaker. Now GSP wants to wait until Anderson is older and slower, and even then he'll want Anderson to cut under 185.
He makes it hard to be a fan of him.

same thing can be said for Anderson, he's fought 3x at lhw but all of a sudden wants a catch weight if he were to fight Jones? c'mon son.

[Budjola]

no fight will happen in this life

[DiamondMaker]

This **** is getting out of hand. Silva fighting gsp makes zero sense. I seriously doubt gsp could beat even Chael, vitor, Dan Henderson ... And certainly not toy with 205's like Forrest Griffen or Bonnar.
GSP is much closer to the 155 guys then the 185er's, just look how he handled bj-1 or Matt s.-1.

Silva fighting Jds or frank mir makes more sense then him fighting gsp and more sense for GSP to fight Ben Henderson.

[6-SPEED]

This **** is getting out of hand. Silva fighting gsp makes zero sense. I seriously doubt gsp could beat even Chael, vitor, Dan Henderson ... And certainly not toy with 205's like Forrest Griffen or Bonnar.
GSP is much closer to the 155 guys then the 185er's, just look how he handled bj-1 or Matt s.-1.

Silva fighting Jds or frank mir makes more sense then him fighting gsp and more sense for GSP to fight Ben Henderson.

You're waiting for GSP vs Rousey?

[DiamondMaker]

You're waiting for GSP vs Rousey?

Lul
Maybe aldo actually.

[dtaps24]

GSP doesn't want to take on Silva at MW, Anderson doesn't want to fight Jones at LHW, Jones doesn't want to move up to HW. It's almost like these guys have certain weight classes they want to fight in as if they are some kind of king or champion at those weight classes. Weird, wild stuff. I can't think of any possible explanation other than that they're either awesome or chicken**** depending on if you're a fan or not. Sometimes the simplest explanation is the easiest one even if it's not what we want to hear. GSP doesn't want to fight someone with a size advantage, neither does Silva (unless their lack of skill makes them an easy mark), neither does Jones. The only way it will happen is if the $$$$$$$ forces the issue, acting like they're pussies for wanting to fight in their class may or may not be true, but it's definitely silly.

[tudge]

Jones doesn't want to move up to HW. .

http://www.mmafighting.com/2012/10/3...to-heavyweight

[Mrs Grudge]

People blow out how big Silva is. They look and see a lanky guy who dominates his weight class and pretends like he's too big for it (which doesn't even make sense, you can't be too big for your weight class if you make weight every time....thats the point of a weight class). Most of the guys Silva's defended his championship against have fought at 205.

I still don't get why they can't have a catchweight.