MMA HQ – Mixed Martial Arts News and Analysis

Inside Fight’s Jeremy Botter is reporting that Anderson Silva will moonlight at light heavyweight for a second time. This time with more resonance perhaps.

According to Botter’s report, nothing is set in stone regarding an opponent, but the honor could go to divisional gatekeeper Keith Jardine.

Botter also indicates the fight will probably be a free broadcast on Spike TV.

MMAJunkie.com is also reporting that UFC 103 is (possibly) going to be in the United Kingdom.

Connecting the dots, one could conclude that Anderson Silva will be fighting in England for the first time in his MMA career. That conclusion is based on the fact that U.K. fight cards have a track record for being aired on Spike TV.

Anderson Silva was last rumored to fight in England at UFC 95, Spike’s last U.K. broadcast. One potential opponent mentioned at that time was Chuck Liddell, ironically, a man who was beaten by Keith Jardine.

That fight obviously never went through, and Silva went from October to April without any spectacle.

British MMA fans have been clamoring for more marquee matchups, so the prospect of Anderson Silva on a U.K fight card is promising.

Dana White went as far as promising the fans a title fight; unfortunately for those fans, Anderson Silva won’t be defending his belt this time around. You can thank UFC 97 for that.

The UFC brass does not want to risk airing a repeat of Silva-Leites, at least not any time soon.

In the same blurb, Botter reports that Demian Maia will meet Nate Marquardt to determine the No. 1 contender to the middleweight title.

Marquardt and Maia both last fought on the aforementioned UFC 95 card in London, England, with both picking up impressive wins in their respective fights.

Could the two be traveling across the pond once again, this time to face each other? Or could the fight make it onto UFC 102, along side a main event which features Randy Couture vs. Antonio Nogueira?

If, in fact, Anderson Silva does face off against Keith Jardine, or another top ten light heavyweight, it is worth speculating whether or not the UFC is setting him up for a title fight at UFC 105. That will greatly hinge on the outcome of the UFC 98 title fight.

If Rashad Evans defends his title against Lyoto Machida, then an Anderson Silva light heavyweight title run becomes a real possibility, simply because his friend and former training partner will be out of the picture long enough for him to get his turn. A win over Jardine would likely put Silva one fight away from a title shot.

While Rashad Evans would next fight against Rampage Jackson, possibly in Memphis, Anderson Silva could preoccupy himself with an opponent like Shogun Rua, Rich Franklin, or Luiz Cane. If Silva were victorious, the Rashad vs. Rampage winner would await him.

If Lyoto Machida defeats Rashad Evans, then a Silva 205 pound title run could morph into a super fight with George St. Pierre. Either way, having Silva fight at lightweight gives the UFC the perfect wiggle room to set up his fight right after.

Silva either gets one step closer to a light heavyweight title shot, sets up a super fight with St. Pierre, or fights a bonafide No. 1 middleweight contender in the winner of Marquardt vs. Maia.

Here is to creating opportunity inside the octagon, not security.