There’s a lot of focus on UFC 98 in May, but there’s another big UFC show before that one, and it is headlined by Anderson Silva v. Thales Leites.
I’ve yet to hear anyone explain convincingly why Thales Leites is getting this shot. I understand delaying Okami’s shot because he is not a draw, but neither is Leites. At least you can sell Okami as the last man to beat Silva, there’s no appeal in a Leites fight besides seeing Anderson Silva fight. Perhaps they think an Okami fight would be boring, and they are more likely to get a good finish with Leites? I asked a friend about this fight today and he didn’t even know who Leites is.
Obviously they are going to sell this show on the strength of Chuck Liddell’s star power, and it will probably do very well, but can someone explain this title shot?
I suppose the good news is there are a number of good middleweight contenders on the horizon in Demian Maia, Michael Bisping, Dan Henderson, Nate Marquardt, Wanderlei Silva, and Akiyama. There’s also the possibility of GSP coming up for a shot.
One wonders where Anderson Silva’s head is at. It’s been 6 months since his last fight, he is focused on boxing training in Los Angeles, and he’s been given a less-than-inspiring opponent. It’s these kinds of fights where you see the unthinkable upset, which is just about the only interesting thing about this fight.