Why did Cote not get an immediate rematch back in 08'?

[The Natural Born Runner]

Just revisited the fight between Silva and Cote at 185lbs for the Middleweight title back in 2008.

For those who don't know, Cote lost the fight via TKO (accidental knee injury). In the second round his knee seemed to have some issue, and then eventually in the third round he stepped awkwardly when bouncing around on his toes and his ACL blew out.

This was the first time since Silva had arrived in the UFC where he was taken into the 3rd round.

Cote most definitely lost the first 2 rounds, but he was doing okay. His overall size, natural strength and good boxing fundamentals were helping him give Silva a decent challenge.

In MMA anything can happen and who knows, he might of even been able to pull a shock out of the bag.

I think with how weak the 185lb division was back then, with Silva beating Henderson, Franklin, Leben and Marquardt all already, there would have been no harm in a rematch. Silva instead took on Leites, who had done a decent job in building himself to a shot, but still wasn't setting the world on fire.

I personally would have liked a rematch.

Thoughts, or memories from this fight?

 

[Fight To Win]

I always thought this too. It's one of those what-ifs that will always be there. Anderson probably would have won a pretty lopsided decision (49-46 at least) but still, the question is there. What if Cote caught him later in the third, in the fourth.. in the fifth. There was a lot of time left and anything can happen in MMA.

 

[NightwingBJJ]

The Division had moved on by the time he came back.

 

[beefcake180]

Most people weren't too pumped on him getting a shot in the first place.

 

[The Natural Born Runner]

The Division had moved on by the time he came back.

I actually did not realize that he was out for a year and a half with that injury.

 

[Cake4Breakfast]

The UFC just didn't do things like that back then, if you got hurt during a fight, outside of a Randy vs. Vitor type of fluke thing, it was a loss.

 

[Clippy]

Not to take anything away from Cote, but this is when Silva started to focus on dragging fights out with his goofing around rather than winning.

 

[AC1D1K]

TY for the early morning laugh TS

 

[The Natural Born Runner]

I always thought this too. It's one of those what-ifs that will always be there. Anderson probably would have won a pretty lopsided decision (49-46 at least) but still, the question is there. What if Cote caught him later in the third, in the fourth.. in the fifth. There was a lot of time left and anything can happen in MMA.

Exactly my point mate.

Also, seems that Cote didn't come back until May 2010, around the time Anderson fought Maia. Could have easily done him vs Cote instead of Maia, Demian could have been next.

 

[CrimsonFan]

Not to take anything away from Cote, but this is when Silva started to focus on dragging fights out with his clowing rather than winning.

I don't remember him taunting cote

 

[Devout Pessimist]

Dana will burn in hell for this.

 

[NightwingBJJ]

I actually did not realize that he was out for a year and a half with that injury.

Yep. The Silva vs Cote fight took place before I was into MMA. He came back in 2010 against Belcher when I was still a relatively new fan and the video package and commentary was how his last fight was against Silva and was the first man to take Silva into the 3rd round. He then proceeded to get Tombstone Piledrived and Rear Naked Choked.

 

[Clippy]

I don't remember him taunting cote

Not so much clowning as in taunting, just as in not finishing fights, his next fight I believe went the full 5 rounds

 

[CrimsonFan]

Not so much clowning as in taunting, just as in not finishing fights, his next fight I believe went the full 5 rounds

Really not giving Cote any credit at all huh?

 

[flyingscissorsheelhook]

Why not an immediate rematch? Because he exploded his knee and was out of action for over a year. The division must go on.

 

[Clippy]

Really not giving Cote any credit at all huh?

I like Cote and I'm a fellow Canadian! He did amazing and it sucks his leg broke but I don't think this warranted an immediate rematch.

Especially when it shows that Silva started to decline here, it wasn't known at the time tho

 

[NeverAgainPlaya]

Most people weren't too pumped on him getting a shot in the first place.

no shit.

why would a challenger who was clearly losing before a freak injury ended the fight, deserve a rematch? Tell me where that makes sense.

 

[The Natural Born Runner]

no shit.

why would a challenger who was clearly losing before a freak injury ended the fight, deserve a rematch? Tell me where that makes sense.

Because he did better than all past opponents.

Also, division was thin as hell.

 

[Big_Chief_Stove]

Cote was out for a long while

 

[Big_Chief_Stove]

Most people weren't too pumped on him getting a shot in the first place.

Those people are idiots. Cote was Silva's most competitive fight up to that point.