Vinny Magalhaes believes Rashad Evans to face A. Silva, then stay at middleweight

[velvet goldmine]

Originally Posted by Tactitus

Not really. Rashad doesn't have the greatest chin and Anderson Silva is the best striker in the sport. Chances are he'll get knocked out, especially in a five-round fight.

Dan Henderson was a tougher matchup.

Chances are Evans will dump Silva on his arse and deliver some serious ground and pound (unlike Chael).

[dipstickjimmy]

Originally Posted by joeaust

Out of the weidman fight? Weidman needs to beat someone in the top 5 before he gets a title shot. This weidman talk has gone way to far. Just because Anderson has dominated all the other top 5 ranked guys, doesn't mean they just fall off. Weidman has to work his way through there first. He hasn't beaten anyone good enough to earn the shot yet. Anderson doesn't have to "find a way" out of fighting a guy who doesn't deserve a shot yet.

Aside from that, Evans is a much more dangerous opponent than weidman and both are great wrestlers so why would anderson "find a way out" against weidman to face a guy that is better than weidman? Makes no sense...

According to Sherdogs rankings June 27, 2012 Mark Munoz was ranked #3 in the Middle Weight division for his fight with Weidman. Demien Maia was ranked #6 in the MW division on Jan 17, 2012 by Sherdog's rankings

So by your criteria Weidman actually deserves a title shot as he meets your criteria of beating a top 5 guy. Weidman by any reasonable criteria is the number 1 contender at MW in the UFC. Luck Rockhold, Evans, Jacare, Cung Le, Bisping, Belcher are all fighters who do not have a win over a top 5 guy.

Belfort, Sonnen and Okami are the only ones I can think of who have top 5 wins and they have all had their shot and been decisively beaten. Weidman is the only fighter at MW who meets your criteria and hasn't had a shot. He also happens to be a bad matchup for Anderson. The champ doesn't get to decide who to fight based on what he has to gain. He fights because of what he has to lose, the belt. If Anderson wants to fight with something to gain he should fight Jon Jones. Otherwise fight the MW #1 contender as decided by the UFC or be stripped of the title for refusing to defend.

[dipstickjimmy]

Originally Posted by chillyoo

I think Weidman needs atleast one more if not 2 more wins. It's not like he's beaten all these top notch guys. He only has 9 fights, and who has he fought that's a dangerous fight for him? No one. Then he wants to call Andy out for July 4th lol like for real? Who is this guy, he's main evented some bs card on fuel. If Andy accepted that it would be a huge huge favor. He can talk all he wants but the fact is he's a nobody and Anderson is a prize fighter.

Weidman Vs Jacare
Weidman Vs. Rockhold
Weidman Vs. Belfort
All seem suitable

If Weidman is to play the game that Anderson is playing he shouldn't fight anyone who hasn't fought for the UFC title recently. Jacare and Rockhold don't matter since they have less of a name than Weidman. He should only fight Belfort, Okami or Sonnen. Someone already said he needs to beat a top 5 ranked fighter which he did in Munoz and Maia but then that same guy says "Oh I don't believe in rankings. No way Munoz was top 5 and Maia is at WW now so they don't count". I am not a Weidman fanatic I am just more in the camp that feels a UFC champ should fight the number 1 contender not pick and choose.

[Gobias]

I do think it'll be Evans that faces Silva next if he wins this weekend. The thing is, I don't see him beating Silva so what then? He's a gate keeper in 2 divisions?