Watch Kalib Run: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
New Blog: Along The Olentangy for Ohio State Fans!

Strikeforce Preview: Fabricio Werdum vs. Antonio Silva

Werdum-silva_medium

Fabricio Werdum (12-4-1) vs. Antonio Silva (13-1)

The Story So Far: The first televised bout of the CBS fight card features two former top-ten heavyweights in a fight that could determine a challeger for the winner of the Emelianenko vs. Rogers main event 

Fabricio Werdum came to prominence fighting in the Japanese MMA promotion, Pride. While he lost to Sergei Kharitonov and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Werdum still bult up an impressive resume with wins over current Strikeforce heavyweight champion, Alistair Overeem and Aleksander Emelianenko. Many observers considered Werdum to have one of the top submission games in the heavyweight division. When the UFC bought Pride Werdum was one of the fighters to make the transition state-side. 

Following an initial loss to Andrei Arlovski, Werdum defeatead Gabriel Gonzaga and Brandon Vera before losing to a suprisingly game Junior dos Santos in one of the major MMA upsets of 2008. After the loss Werdum found himself uncerimoniously dumped by the UFC. After a lengthy free agency period Werdum signed with Strikeforce and defeated Mike Pyle at Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg.

Antonio Silva was once considered to be a top heavyweight prospect and future star of EliteXC. However, that narrative evaporated when Silva tested positive for the anabolic steroid, Boldenone, after defeating Justin Eilers for the vacant EliteXC heavyweight title. Antonio was suspended by the CSAC for a year but Silva fled to Japan and competed in Sengoku events despite the protest of the CSAC. Now Silva will make his return to the United States and fight for the opportunity to become a heavyweight headliner once again.

SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Emelianenko vs. Rogers

Star-divide

Conventional Wisdom: This heavyweight fight may be a classic MMA match-up. The Jiu-Jistu specialist, in Werdum, facing off against a superior striker, in Silva. Expect a lot of clinching with Werdum looking to sweep Silva to the mat and attempt to submit the superior striker. 

WKR Analysis: The last time WKR watched Silva fight live --at EliteXC: Unfinished Business-- Silva looked slow and tired. Ironic considering his positive steroid test. Before that fight Antonio Silva was viewed as an extremely athletic heavweight with deadly hands, basically Brett Rogers without the girth. If the Antonio Silva that was ranked in the top-ten shows up WKR could see a TKO victory for Silva in round one a la Junior dos Santos. 

Fun Fact: If you think that Antonio Silva doesn't look quite normal it is probably because he suffers from a condition called Acromegaly, which causes the enlargement of facial and body features because of a tumor in his pituitary gland.

Poll
Who Wins?
Fabricio Werdum
34 votes
Antonio Silva
43 votes

77 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 1 comment |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Lot of people like Silva in this. Didn’t see that coming…

watchkalibrun.com

by Zak Woods on Nov 3, 2009 4:18 PM EST reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Innovative, incisive and independent MMA coverage
Start posting on Watch Kalib Run »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

Connect_with_facebook

SBNation.com Recent Stories

Photo

Stephan Bonnar To Meet Igor Pokrajac At Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale

via www.mmaconvert.com

Thiago Alves v. John Howard Set For UFC 124

LAS VEGAS - APRIL 14:  Floyd Mayweather Sr. (L) and his son, boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., joke around with a videographer as Floyd Mayweather Jr. works out April 14, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mayweather is scheduled to face Shane Mosley in a 12-round welterweight bout on May 1, 2010 in Las Vegas.  (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) link

Video: Floyd Mayweather Jr. Unleashes Racist Tirade

More from SBNation.com >


Managers

K2-xl_small Zak Woods

Editors

Chicagoatnight1_small Zach Krantz

Afp_small Nick Becker

Avatar_small David St. Martin

Contributors

Evan_tanner_small Kaleb Kelchner

Omg_wall_small S.C. Michaelson

Wearealone_small Derek Suboticki