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RUMOUR: Wanderlei Silva tvs Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 108

2K views 25 replies 23 participants last post by  sttywilliam 
#1 ·
A rumour is circulating today that former PRIDE champion, “The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva will square off with Japanese superstar, Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 108 on January 2nd as part of the promotions year end celebrations.

The rumour gathered pace earlier today when MMA Nation’s, Luke Thomas posted the following on his Twitter account.

“I’m hearing that Wanderlei Silva is fighting Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 108. Stay tuned for confirmation.”

Silva is coming off a series of disappointing defeats, the latest at the hands of Rich Franklin in June. He was set to face Michael Bisping this November, as revealed by MMABay, but an adverse reaction to facial surgery forced him to withdraw. Now he is set to make his middleweight debut against Akiyama in what could be an early fight of the year contender.

Akiyama made a successful UFC debut in July, defeating Alan Belcher at UFC 100. He has recently taken the decision to train in Las Vegas for a month with striking coach, Shawn Tompkins to improve his defence, something he will likely be needing if these rumours are true.

I must remind you that this is purely a rumour at this stage and MMABay is in no way confirming it to be true. We’ll keep you posted if we hear anything else.
http://www.mmabay.co.uk/Story%2002846.html
 
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#3 ·
It would be a cool matchup, Wanderlei needs to get his cardio back again, he can't hope to be too successful if he's gassing two minutes into a fight, and in that Franklin fight it was only a cut to 195, now he's gotta do 185, I hope he doesnt wait until right before the fight to shed the weight like it was rumored he did before UFC 99. As far as the fight goes, I would take Wanderlei by TKO.
 
#7 ·
I'm convinced MMABay is set up like the dolphins who write Family Guy. And since there are only so many fighters per division, they have to be right every once in awhile.

That being said, I would expect Dana and Co. to give Wandy an easier welcoming opponent to 185. No one wants him to go out w/ a thousand losses.

Sexyama would be a fun fight for sure, though. I would think Sexyama would take it with better cardio and more proficient striking.
 
#8 ·
This will be a great bout if it is true. Akiyama stands a good chance of being the first Japanese fighter to beat the Wand. However, I never vote against Silva no matter who he fights. That being said, I see Yoshihiro standing up for most of the fight like so many of his brethren before him and meeting a similar fate, minus the face stompage. Which is too bad because you know Wandy would be more than happy to smash his heel into that purdy face...:thumb02:
 
#14 ·
Its not really a question if Wandy can resist the Sexyness of Akiyama, but rather can Akiyama stay sexy when he's in there with a human pug dog. Wandy did have facial surgery but his face is still pretty much one giant mound of ugly.

I think with Silva's fixed face/nose he'll be able to breath better and fight longer. I think we might have to start calling him Brutalyama after this fight is over...granted if the rumor is true.
 
#15 ·
Well if this fight were to take place I see thins being a really bad match up for Akiyama. Wanderlei brawls till the end and that's a problem for Akiyama. Silva isn't exactly a slouch in the clinch either :thumbsup:
 
#17 ·
It makes sense now, Wandy has been undergoing facial surgeries in attempt to counter the Sexyama the only way you can, gotta fight sexy with sexy, a few more surguries an then Sexyama vs The Sex Murderer.
 
#22 ·
Akiyama did not impress me versus Belcher, but Silva hasn't done anything spectacular since re-joining the UFC either. I would rather have Wandy win, though, since a loss for Akiyama would not be as detrimental in the grand scheme of things.
 
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