Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami Expected at UFC: Rio

It looks as if the super-fight between Anderson Silva and Georges St. Pierre will have to wait. Dana White has confirmed that the rematch between UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and Yushin Okami will likely take place in Brazil this August. The two first met in 2006 in the opening round of the Rumble on the Rock Welterweight Tournament. Silva lost via disqualification due to an illegal upkick and has since gone undefeated. 

Silva (28-4) looked to be unstoppable up until his bout with Chael Sonnen. The fight saw “The Spider” in more danger than we had ever seen him in before. Sonnen was completely dominating the fight until Silva locked in a Triangle Choke midway through the final round, forcing the challenger to submit. Following the win, Silva went on to knock out Vitor Belfort with a stunning front kick. Although many feel as if Okami is undeserving of a title shot and the Georges St. Pierre matchup makes more sense, its something they will have to deal with.

Okami (26-5) has been the most successful middleweight in the UFC to never get a title shot. Inside the Octagon he holds a stellar record of 10-2. In his last outing, he defeated Nate Marquardt to move ahead in line for the number one contender spot. Okami’s name has been one tossed into title talks for years now and White has finally accepted the fact that he is the next legitimate contender at 185 lbs.

Should both Silva and St. Pierre defend their titles successfully, it’s a given that the two will likely be pitted against each other in the future. Both men have literally cleaned out their respective divisions and it’s practically the only fight left for each to submit their legacy as one of the greatest fighters in the history of the sport.

Tags: Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnen, Georges St. Pierre, MMA, UFC, UFC Rio, Yushin Okami

Category: MMA, News, UFC