UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva will return to the 205-pound division in search of better competition against former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pa., on August 8

Griffin was previously booked to take on Thiago Silva in the co main event; however, UFC President Dana White made an executive decision to insert the “Spider” instead.

Here’s his reasoning:

“Forrest loved the idea and said he’d do it right away, and Anderson told me he would fight anyone I wanted him to fight, no matter who it is. So we got the deal…. I talked to (a reporter) the day after (UFC 97) and that’s when I started working on this. At the end of the day, it’s my job to put on the kinds of fights that you in the media will like and that the fans will want to see. Silva and Griffin is the kind of fight that even other fighters are going to go crazy for. That’s what I do for a living. I as a fan didn’t like what I saw (at UFC 97) and I wasn’t kidding when I said I wanted to walk out of the building because of how embarrassed I am. But I can tell you this: I’m going to be counting the days until this fight.”

Thiago Silva will take on “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine at UFC 102 on August 29th from the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, OR, according to MMAJunkie. The fight come on the heals of the UFC decision to replace Thiago Silva with Anderson Silva to fight Forrest Griffin at UFC 101.

The fight has been agreed upon, but is still waiting on signatures.

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Comments (14)

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I Don't Know
written by Aries, April 29, 2009

I'm a fan of forrest but this may not be a good match up. He's been stoped in 2 of his last four, and and with a striker like anderson, he may not have a chance standing. On the ground forrest is good but anderson is way better. I wouldn't call him the under dog, but his chance to win is smaller then anderson's. but it'll be a good one

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written by Andy12, April 29, 2009

Two of his last five not four.

It's an exciting match up.

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Well...
written by Brutus, April 29, 2009

I don't think Forrest will stand much of a chance against Silva. Take into account that Silva destroyed Rich Franklin two times and they are both superb strikers with Anderson having a huge edge.

I would like to see him fight the A guys such as Rua, GSP or Rampage

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written by Marshall art, April 29, 2009

No matter who silva go's up against people will be like "Oh he just wasn't a good match for anderson"

Lets face it, silva is that little bit above the top fighters in the UFC. And thats all there is to it.

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Can't Argue That
written by Trika, April 29, 2009

I agree with you "Marshall art". This is a man that can beat most middleweights as he reads "War And Peace" in his left hand. Forest will bring it though. And as "Brutus" said, it would be nice to see him fight A guys that will really chanllenge him. That is the single scar on his mystique as far as I am concerned.

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um....
written by Morbid, April 29, 2009

Forrest beat both Rua and Rampage, but that doesn't qualify him as an "A" guy in your book? Get off Silva's ****.

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written by jhnsefjhnsfjk, April 29, 2009

Listen "Morbid"...let's not forget Forrest beat a post knee surgery shogun who didn't even really train for the fight. Shogun took his chances while being out of shape and lost. He also foolishly gave up his back like 8 times. Big surprise that Griffin choked him out. Pride Shogun would've manhandled Forrest Griffin. Rampage lost because Forrest has long legs and repeatedly leg kicks his opponents, which is the easiest move in the book. If he didn't throw a single leg kick he would've gotten knocked out in round 1 or 2 at the latest. Even with Jackson on one good leg Forrest didn't have the talent to finish him off. Forrest is very tough with excellent cardio but it's his size brings him success more so than his talent. However, I'm not trying to say he's not dangerous. In my opinion, this is Silva's toughest test despite Forrest not being his most skilled opponent in the UFC. It's Griffin's leg kicks that I'm scared about. Silva better be expecting lots of them.

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Rofl Sauce
written by Morbid, April 29, 2009

Pppfffttt you just shot your own arguments in the foot jhnsefjhnsfjk. If he didn't train for the fight thats his own damn fault, and I have my doubts we will see the old Shogun back...you know, the one who doesn't give up his back 8 damn times, and can't finish Coleman. And yes, if Forrest hadn't come in with a solid game plan and taken Rampage's legs out, and with them a lot of his power, then yes he would have been knocked out. Silva is a damn talented man, but he is still just a man and if he looks past Forrest and comes expecting to put in the same performance he did at his last fight he is in for a crap night.

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written by Marshall art, April 30, 2009

The thing with silva is, you gotta be aggressive with him before he'll unleash an ass whipping.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with how he preformed at UFC 97 imo
Thales didn't want to fight. He kept backing off, falling on the ground etc. So silva just toyed around with him for the 5 rounds and made sure he got his points.
Watch the fight again and pay close attention to silva. His approach to fighting a guy that was scared and uneasy standing up was very interesting. Not to mention respectful to Thales

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written by Aries, April 30, 2009

Morbid, you should think before typing. he beat rampage yes, and rua, but they are not anderson silva. rua's striking is'nt nearly as accurate as anderson's, and with rampage he could kick, silva can kick wwwaaayyy harder. but like i said forest will bring it and anderson will have to counter. so no one's on his nuts it's just anderson doesn't have anyone in his weight class, which is why he's moved up a weight. dipsh*t.

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Sigh...
written by Morbid, April 30, 2009

Look, all I'm saying is Anderson Silva is not the end all be all of MMA. I'm not taking anything away from the man or trying to say he hasn't dominated his weight class, because he has. I got it. EVERYONE loves Anderson Silva and that's fine. It just irritates me when Griffin instantly gets classified as a scrub just because he is going against him. The point I was trying to make is Forrest can hold his own just fine and I don't think he is going to get destroyed like Irving. Relax and quit taking this so seriously chief.

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Listen Up Morbid
written by Trika, April 30, 2009

Morbid, you talk about me or anyone else playing with another mans testicles due to disagreement and you won't have to worry about insulting anyone again on this site. Post passionately, disagree passionately, and post intelligently~Trika

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your crazy
written by biggcincy, May 11, 2009

Forrest has the best shot at beating the spider and if you ask me the spider has been fighting weak competition by the way Forrest broke his hand against Rashad and up to that point he was clearly wining

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written by Aries, May 15, 2009

Forest does have the best shot at beating Silva, Silva's way to accurate. Forest won't be able to stick and move agaist him because that's what Anderson does. I think if he mixes leg kicks and clinching with punces inside then Griffin could eek a decsion and we could see that happening. Plus the rampage and rua fights he fought both differently. With Rua he out wrestled him, with Rampage he kickboxed, Silva is good at both but we see him taken down alot, can't wait for this match up.

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