UFC Should Target Anderson Silva vs. Georges St-Pierre for 2016 Superbowl Card

[AronaBeatsJones]

It seems that with the stacked December card with Jose Aldo-Conor McGregor and Fabricio Werdum-Cain Velasquez II (and possibly Ronda Rousey-Miesha Tate III), the UFC is definitely looking to make a statement to defy the criticisms that the UFC's PPV buyrates are dwindling (which they were).

Now that McGregor and Rousey have proven to be PPV draws, they need other key fights to raise the annual PPV buyrate average, and what they really should be looking at doing right now is pulling the trigger on a lot of long-built fights that never came to fruition.

Being in talks with Fedor Emelianenko is indicative of this, but more so, the UFC should be dangling the carrot in front of Georges St-Pierre to make a comeback, if even for a single fight, against Anderson Silva just to cash in on the marquee value this bout has accumulated over the last decade.

Obviously, this fight is not what it once was, with both men no longer champions (and Silva specifically being defeated), but if Floyd Mayweather, Jr-Manny Pacquiao taught us anything, it's that marquee "dream" bouts only appreciate as time goes on, regardless of what happens (in the case of Pacquiao, his two losses, especially getting KO'd by Juan Manuel Marquez).

Important factors:

• Dream fight built since 2006 between the respective kings at welterweight and middleweight.
• Georges St-Pierre is one of the biggest draws in MMA history, and averaged around 700k-950k buys, as did Silva against Sonnen. This fight could most definitely do well north of 1.5 million buys, by itself.
• Georges St-Pierre specifically left citing drug-testing concerns as a motivating factor.
• As of last report (late 2014), Georges St-Pierre walks around at a fit 200 lbs.
• Anderson Silva is evidently nearing the end. His value should be maximized right now, and St-Pierre is arguably the biggest possible fight (with Jones being a strong contender, but Silva has shunned the idea of fighting Jones).
• According to Nick Diaz, the UFC was targeting this fight for the 2015 Superbowl card. St-Pierre declined, and Diaz took his place, but White has said that talks with St-Pierre are ongoing.

 

[phatron]

If GSP signed to fight a guy that just failed several tests for several PED's, he'd kinda be a hypocrite.

 

[JackWhite]

I have zero interest in this fight anymore. It didn't happen back in 2010/2011, it won't happen now.

 

[BisexualMMA]

If GSP signed to fight a guy that just failed several tests for several PED's, he'd kinda be a hypocrite.

He'd be a hypocrite if he TOOK PEDs, not if he fought someone who took them.

 

[Headkicktoleg]

Maybe we can get Royce/Shamrock on the card too

 

[chunglii]

Nah man. It's over now.

 

[manu1433]

No chance in hell

especially after GSP lost to Hendricks

 

[ALAN PARTRIDGE]

forget it, zero chance

 

[rjmbrd]

Batman -vs- Godzilla would be a good fight to work towards as well.

 

[Prime Ang]

Not interested in it anymore.

 

[Degen Gambler]

Let it go

 

[TheRuthlessOne]

GSP is retired

 

[VroomyJeeps]

you guys say your not interested are full of shit

you would watch and you would like it, say otherwise and ur lying to yourself

 

[Senzo Tanaka]

GSP has been adamant that he would not fight Anderson unless he made it to 170lbs. He's also been publicly against PEDs and doesn't wouldn't want to fight or lose to guys that are cheating.

GSP has it in his mind that Silva is way too big for him (235lbs hydrated) and now that Silva has pissed hot, it's certainly not happening.

 

[BisexualMMA]

GSP has been adamant that he would not fight Anderson unless he made it to 170lbs. He's also been publicly against PEDs and doesn't wouldn't want to fight or lose to guys that are cheating.

GSP has it in his mind that Silva is way too big for him (235lbs hydrated) and now that Silva has pissed hot, it's certainly not happening.

Well, maybe Anderson will begin an Overeem-like decrease in size for unknown reasons...

 

[phatron]

He'd be a hypocrite if he TOOK PEDs, not if he fought someone who took them.

GSP isn't fighting right now because of the PED landscape in MMA.

For him to end his hiatus and fight a 3-4 time convicted PED user would be hypocritical. It would go against the strong stance he's had for the last several years by putting the spotlight on a known cheater.

 

[COBRA03]

Is GSP going to be a MW if he comes back? If he will still fight at WW, I don't think he'll take that fight. Matt Hughes never fought at a heavier weight, and it never damaged his legacy. I think GSP would be happy to be remembered as the best WW ever.

 

[opl]

Right, GSP fight a known roider. It was hard enough for him to want to fight other fighters whom he suspected use roids or drugs, so wanting to fight a proven roider is tough.

 

[the flame]

No chance in hell

especially after GSP lost to Hendricks

he lost? do u live in a alternate universe, or do u just hate much?

 

[manu1433]

he lost? do u live in a alternate universe, or do u just hate much?

don't hate

just thought he lost that decision and definitely ran from what should have been a rematch after the bad decision

dana white:

“This is the thing that makes people not like fights. I don’t even know what to say. I’m still so blown away by it. Georges knew he lost, his corner knew he lost. Hendricks knew he won, his corner knew he won. … These guys, this commission is just despicably horrible.”