To be perfectly honest, I dont know what to expect from the UFC's resident #1 "lutador brasileiro" as of right now. Hes been absolutely dominant for the majority of his UFC career, and it seems hes been on the back-burner mentally for his last couple title defenses. Whether its the fact that he doesn't respect the competition the company is putting him up against, or the stigma he would face after losing to such a fighter, he's seemed unwilling to engage in a fashion that would produce an exciting fight.
He's followed a well informed gameplan to be sure, but for gods sake, was he really hesitant to get into a jiu jitsu battle with Leites? Silva is a black belt in BJJ, who happens to be training with some of the best in his country at the moment. To be a thouroughly convincing champion, he has to prove to the world, and maybe more importantly, his countrymen, that he isnt scared to exchange positions in a sport that has evolved into a new national pastime for his home country. Its Brasilian Jiu Jitsu for fucks sake! I would think that a large portion of the people in the jiu jitsu community back home were thinking "Leites is handling this poorly ( im also assuming the people thinking this are being EXTREMELY forgiving of Leites performance.... bleugh), but why isnt Silva following him down at least?"
Ive heard opinions from every outlet covering fight sports that have run the gamut from calling Silva a coward for failing to engage on the ground, to webites praising him as a sort of neo-Muhammad Ali, citing his ability to improvise and inovate in the cage. While his actions in terms of striking have been construed as adventurous as well as showboating, it seems to me that he holds no further value fighting at 185 pounds. Barring another showdown with Nate Marquardt, i really see him producing no great amount of fan-based publicity with him fighting at the level he seems to have leveled out at.
I say throw him into deep water at 205. Let him taste some of the power that the top fighters at that weight hold, then let him decide whether he thinks another fast paced grudge match with Marquardt is befitting. I know he has a match set with Griffin at UFC 101, but I dont see that being much of a challenge. I say let him start thinking about that elusive second belt, and pitting him against contenders who cant wait to shove Silva off his throne he has constructed for himself in his own mind. Who knows, he may come out victorious in any situation that the UFC throws at him, but maybe, just maybe... it will put him right back where he needs to be, hungry to prove to the world just who he REALLY is.
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