Should Silva Vacate or UFC force it?

[Dr. Stoppage]

Once January is though, we'll have at least two or maybe three quality contenders for Anderson --- Belcher (if he beats Okami), the Boestch/Weidman winner and the Bisping/Belfort winner. He'll probably 'choose' to face Vitor/Bisping since they're the biggest names, leaving a potential Belcher vs. Boetsch/Weidman #1 contender's bout.

I really don't think the GSP superfight is happening anytime soon. After a year of rehab just to get himself back into top form at 170, you really think St. Pierre will take another several months off to properly acclimate himself for fighting at 185, or even at a catchweight?

[Loki]

if anderson stays on the shelf for that long, then yes there should be an interim fight.

but if the 'new' interm champ gets hurt and doesn't fight for 9 months then that will just suck - and that doesn't seem like it is too far fetched. that's the problem.

[Tension Head]

Anderson isn't scared of anyone. I like Chris and think he's damn close to a title shot (one more win would be enough), but he hasn't been consistently destroying fighters, some of those fighters amazing in their own right, for 7 years like Anderson has. Say what you will about Anderson Silva the businessman, but Anderson Silva the fighter deserves the benefit of the doubt.

[horsedawg37]

So, I see Bisping is asking for his and Belfort's fight to be an interim title match since Anderson says he wants to take off til the end of 2013 maybe and focus on a movie. Even if that doesn't happen, it doesn't appear he's interested in any title fights anytime soon as all that seems to be brought up are super fights. I know he's obviously the owner of the belt..but is it fair for the rest of the division to be held hostage while he jacks around with non title super fights, movies, etc, and just refusing to fight contenders ? Should the UFC make an interim champ or something?

Yes! If Silva just wants to do movies and fight GSP... the winners of Tim/Chris fight the winners of Vitor/Michael for the title... July would be a good title fight for the New UFC Middleweight Championship... not interim... Champion!

[horsedawg37]

Anderson is pretty much done with the 185 division... he just wants big money fights. He really doesn't have anything to prove... so, just give him super fights.