This fight was too strange to let go..
Yeah I'm probably being biased and somewhat ridiculous but I feel like there is some truth behind it
Some notes
1. The prefight interview
- Silva is asked what his dream scenario for the match would be and he says its Buffer yelling that Weidman is the new champion.
- Claims he is tired, if he loses, he no longer wants to fight for the title nor wants a rematch also repeated in his post fight interview
- When asked about the superfights, he says they dominates their respective divisions and the fight he wants most is against Roy Jones Jr. Even going as far as to pleading on camera for the fight to RJJ
2. The actual fight
- Weidman never actually took him down. Silva had a nice little sprawl to counter his first takedown and was eventually just flipped over to his back. Silva stuffed the latter 2 takedowns easily in the 2nd round.
- Silva took some GNP in the first and even escaped that lame heel hook attempt. Never really was in any danger in the first
- At the end of the first, Silva goes up to Weidman and gives him a kiss on the cheek after some mild showboating. Asks Weidman to not take it to the ground and keep it standing.
- Silva barely throws any strikes in the second while mostly doing an even more outlandish version of his usual showboating. Silva's showboating in the Maia/Forrest were followed up by heavy counter strikes by the champion turning Maia's face into hamburger meat and Forrest into the can that he is.
- Weidman claims he was getting hurt by the leg kicks in the post fight conference and couldn't breathe in between the 1st and 2nd. Its apparent he was heavily gassed coming into the 2nd with his mouth wide open.
- Herb Dean claims he didn't know if Anderson was really out or faking it
Here are some theories on how it all went down
1. Weidman really had Anderson's number and caught him at a perfect time during Anderson's bob and weave routine. Anderson clearly underestimated him and paid for it. Weidman knew where every shot Anderson was throwing was going and just thoroughly practiced for that one time Anderson left an opening in his showboating by you know.. punching a whole through his fucking chest.
2. Anderson threw the fight and practiced rolling his eyes back for weeks Undertaker style. Hell if anyone could do it, Anderson would be the one. (Lol)
3. Anderson was generally tired of being the champion. He really wanted a fight with his idol RJJ. There is absolutely no way he would have gotten it as champion inside the Octagon. And sure as hell not outside of it as long as he was champion due to the champion's clause in UFC contracts. He intentionally showboated to an extreme while trying to keep Weidman aggressive to go for the finish. Tapping to that heel hook wouldn't have had the same effect. Now all the superfight talks are gone, and the RJJ fight could very much become a reality and doesn't seem as ludicrous as it initially seemed.
4. Anderson had a do or die attitude coming into the fight. Whatever happened, happened and was in the will of God (Fedor route only difference being Anderson isn't a can and doesn't need to actually try and beat a joke of a fighter like Weidman). He was legitimately tired of being champion. He wanted to entertain the fans and put on a show and go for a crazy KO while actually getting the win and if he got ktfo in the process, so be it.
Honestly, the only way we could find out is through a rematch if there even is one.
A rematch with Weidman winning would prove #1.
A rematch even going down would disprove #2, 3 and possibly 4.
If a rematch never happens and he goes on to fight RJJ, it would prove #2, 3 and possibly 4.
If Weidman loses his next title defense against whoever not named Anderson, and goes on to fight Anderson in a 3 rounder where Anderson mollywhops the poor kid, then it proves #2 or 3.
imo at least
