Anderson ducking Bones, Damaging his legacy

I would say nearly every clued up MMA fan will only name 2 men as the Greatest of all time.

I think this ducking of Jones is tarnishing Andersons record. He makes a song and dance about not being a Lhw when in his most recent video he placed his walkabout weight at 215-220.

So we have this man bigger or at least similar sized to all the top Lhw's Evans, Hendo and his own training partner Machida arent really cutting to make 205 at all, and lets be honest probabally Shogun wouldnt be over 220 if he wasnt so fat off season.

Now we have Bones posting Pics of himself at under 220 (granted these are probabally not normal, Id expect 230ish to be his walkabout weight) I think it damaging for his legacy that he is so blatent about not wanting to fight Bones, A man he is withing 10lbs of. I think its for no other reason that he feels that its the most likely fight he will loose. (Outside fighting a Heavyweight I suppose)

When asked at the press confrence wether he would fight Jones if he dropped to meet him at a catchweight Anderson said:

"Look, there are many possibilities, but fighting Jon Jones is one that is not possible, there's no way."

He has gone on record saying he wants to retire undefeated in the UFC, and has gone to the trouble of calling out GSP who is more than a weight class smaller than him (30lbs walkaround weigth difference is nearly the difference of a Ww fighting a Lhw) 190lbs - 220lbs walkaround weights.

I think that this is tarnishing his legacy for me. I was all for him being seen as the GOAT over Fedor but blatently ducking a fight against the 1 man people think will beat him is not the actions of the Greatest.

Ive gone right off Anderson after hearing this and I for one am hoping Bonnar beats him and puts the GOAT debate to bed. Anyone else?

I don't think Anderson is ducking Jones as Jones doesn't seem keen on the fight as well but I can see what your saying Ben. I can see why this fight should be made as Anderson has fought at 205 before the third being this Saturday, It's nothing like a potential GSP fight where GSP would have to enter a new weight class to fight Anderson.

Cowboys From Hell wrote:I don't think Anderson is ducking Jones as Jones doesn't seem keen on the fight as well but I can see what your saying Ben. I can see why this fight should be made as Anderson has fought at 205 before the third being this Saturday, It's nothing like a potential GSP fight where GSP would have to enter a new weight class to fight Anderson.

Bones is just being respectfull to Anderson I think, I reckon he would take the fight in a heartbeat because he has more to gain and less to loose.

Like you say 205 isnt new water to tread for Anderson and most greats in combat sports see stepping up in weight and winning new belts or going after those big names in the devisions above them as the thing to do.

If Anderson wants GSP id like to see him stripped of his title. He should be fighting Weidman and not Bonnar at the very least.

I think Anderson would beat jones, but I don't think not fighting him damages his legacy.

Jones is more than a weight class above Silva. He has no obligation to fight him just because he has beat a few mid level guys in the division. Walking around weight is deceptive, Silva walks at 220 and then makes 185 comfortably, whilst Jones walks at 220 and diets all year round so he can make 205. There is a difference.

If Anderson doesn't fight Weidman ASAP after he plows through Boetsch... that is the kind of thing that will tarnish his legacy.

Personally speaking, I don't think that we can criticise Anderson too much, for not wanting to fight a guy, that could easily fight two weight classes above him, and I would hold the same opinion about GSP, should he not want a fight with Anderson. I dislike Silva, but that's more because of the total disrespect that he shows any and all opponents. It's weird, because when Ali and SRL used to do it in boxing, I loved it (maybe an age factor).

Jones was the first one to come out and say he doesn't want the fight. This is an utterly pointless thread. Fucking comical stuff.

And as for the GSP-Silva fight, that's been talked about for years. Dana wants that fight, all the fans apparently want that fight. Both have been dominant champions for years. It's a completely different situation to any potential fight with Bones.

If GSP turns around tomorrow and says he doesn't want to fight Anderson will that tarnish his legacy? Will it fuck. And the size difference between Anderson and GSP is a lot smaller than the one between Bones and Anderson. Anderson walks around fat at 210. His recent video was in the lead-up to a 205 fight so he was carrying more weight. GSP walks around at about 190. Bones walks around at 240 and diets ALL THE TIME to keep his weight there. Jones is a HW. He's two weight class bigger than Anderson.

How did we know you'd turn it around on Jones, Anfield... (mega yawn)

They've both got massive respect for each other, but this is mixed martial arts, and the UFC, so if Dana wants them to fight achieve other (which he does), and throws enough money at them both (which he will), then it will happen.

Reminds me of the AKA team refusing to fight each other, Dana said he's not having any of that.

Also, the fans want to see it. Almost nobody talks about GSP- Silva anymore. Silva- Bones is the new fantasy fight. I know it's the one I'd rather see anyway

How did that AKA thing work out for Dana? Did they fight? Did Machida fight Anderson when Dana wanted him to drop to 185? Nope. When Dana wanted Hendo-Sonnen he was laughed at by both parties. Has Dana EVER made two guys that didn't want to fight each other get in the cage? No he has not.

Jones was the first to come out, months ago, and say he didn't want to fight Silva. This thread attacks Silva for not taking the fight, let's get the facts straight.

And the reason people haven't been talking about GSP-Silva is because GSP has been out for so long. Once he comes back and walks through Condit that's all people will talk about.

Anfield then its damaging both their legacy, You cant refuse to fight the best and then be though of as the best. Some Boxing experts put Duran ahead Ali, because when we're talking about the P4p the Guy got in there with the likes of SRL, Hagler and Hearns, All bigger men because they were the best fight about. Now imagine if he pulled this "I respect you too much" bollox. I don’t buy it from either man.

Anderson thinks: "Im near retirement I'll just have a few "easy" fights and call it a day, no need to risk getting bust up by those Elbows when there are guys like Bonnar to use as a punchbag, or guys like Bisping near a shot at 185" Anderson is taking the easy route and you cant really knock that because he has fought a lot of great opponents.

Bones thinks: "I don’t want KO'd. Im scared Anderson would KO me, please don’t let Anderson KO me. Ill fight anyone else but Anderson, I listen to the fans, give me Sonnen… not Anderson though, I don’t listen to the fans on him because he would KO me."

Bones is more to blame than Anderson for sure, as the young hungry guy he should be trying to take the p4p top spot insted of pretending he is listening to fans by considering Sonnen, more fans would want to see Anderson fight him.

Id back Anderson to KO him too, his 1 shot stopping power is incredible, Jones wouldn’t last 2mins on the feet with him.

Lets all be honest outside fighting a Heavyweight there isnt a harder fight for Anderson and there isnt one for Jones.

Id agree with Axe, GSP vs Silva isnt the fight the fans are making Noise about its Bones vs Anderson now.

Some valid points however alot of fans would like to see jones against a heavy . Would be more interesting if dana offers jones vs mir for example . Would jones accept that fight for starters i honestly dont think he would .

The hype will build and build for Jones vs Anderson and hopefully it will happen, Anderson has dominated the MW division for a long time and he is unbeaten at LHW so why would we want to see him drop down and fight a smaller guy in GSP.

I and I think many others wud much rather see Jones vs Anderson and GSP vs Sonnen --- than Jones vs Sonnen and Anderson vs GSP.

Christ, anybody reading this would think Anderson is shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

kavik2 wrote:The hype will build and build for Jones vs Anderson and hopefully it will happen, Anderson has dominated the MW division for a long time and he is unbeaten at LHW so why would we want to see him drop down and fight a smaller guy in GSP.

I and I think many others wud much rather see Jones vs Anderson and GSP vs Sonnen --- than Jones vs Sonnen and Anderson vs GSP.

GSP-Silva is the money fight. Jones has no fans, GSP has more than anyway. It's all about money for the UFC.

rudeboyben84 wrote:

Id agree with Axe, GSP vs Silva isnt the fight the fans are making Noise about its Bones vs Anderson now.

Purely because GSP has been out for so long. When he beats Condit, watch the GSP-Anderson calls start. Fans want to see GSP vs Anderson because they're the top 2 in the world. Fans want to see Anderson-Bones to see Anderson knock him. The money is in the GSP-Anderson fight.

Quote from Anderson:

"I'm old, guys," Silva said. "I'm getting old. I'm retired. I'm nearly there. I've only got another five years.

"I think [GSP] would be a great challenge for me. I prefer him over Jon Jones. He's smaller. It'll be a little bit easier. I'll be hit less."

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Nearly there? only has another 5 years? 5 years is a long time I dont get what he is saying, He has only 2 fights on his contract. I wonder if he will sign a new one and keep going for 5 years? Crazy to think he will fight till he is over 40. Im sure he is in no rush to see these last 2 figths out.

rudeboyben84 wrote:Quote from Anderson:

"I'm old, guys," Silva said. "I'm getting old. I'm retired. I'm nearly there. I've only got another five years.

"I think [GSP] would be a great challenge for me. I prefer him over Jon Jones. He's smaller. It'll be a little bit easier. I'll be hit less."

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Nearly there? only has another 5 years? 5 years is a long time I dont get what he is saying, He has only 2 fights on his contract. I wonder if he will sign a new one and keep going for 5 years? Crazy to think he will fight till he is over 40. Im sure he is in no rush to see these last 2 figths out.

I think the last sentence although It was probably meant to be tongue in cheek sums up It for me although Anderson is a great fight his tendency to pick opponents he know he should beat annoys the hell out of me.

For me Jones Is the money fight as around 90% of MMA fans want to see Silva KO Jones It will be similar to Chael fight in the fact a lot of people wanted to see Chael lose.

I don't really get why people would want to see GSP vs silva over a Silva vs bones fight. Right now the best 2 fighters in the world (or 2 most dominant) are silva and bones. Silva is easily the best fighter in the world p4p and has shown in his fights at LHW he is more than capable of hanging with the best in that division. Asking to fight a welterweight baffles me, he says he doesn't fight for money so what does he have to gain from beating a guy, who to my knowledge has never fought above WW. The cynic in me also wonders why he's only really showed interest in the fight after GSP has done his knee. For what it's worth I think if they both entered the cage at 100% Anderson wins everytime but again it seems Anderson only wants to fight the fights he's confident of winning.

The bones fight would cement silva as the greatest ever, neither have any stand out candidates in there division at the moment unlike GSP so it makes sense to me. Also this way all you guys might get to watch weidman smash bisping in a #1 contenders fight.

Now with my biased cap on - I hope silva doesn't duck GSP, GSP would finish him in the 1st with a superman punch followed by some GNP, and I hope the fight happens in brazil.

From Anderson.

"People are talking about that so much that... I don't have this ambition, this (fight) doesn't motivate me, especially since they have other athletes in my team, such as Lil' Nog, Maldonado, Feijao, Caldeirao (Wagner Prado), that are in his weight class. My weight class is 185, my belt is of that weight class. But people are talking so much about this, and we are employees of the UFC. Of course, I could be saying that I don't want it, but what if he goes out and accepts the money Dana is proposing for him to fight? It will be hard (not to accept it). It's not the money that motivates me to fight, I fight because I like it. So, I don't know. I wouldn't like (to fight him). But if it's going to happen, it would have to be at a catchweight. The belt shouldn't be at play. I already have mine and I don't want a belt to be left at the side."

Nicely played Anderson, Nicely played...Nice.....Nice.

Silva v Jones at 204 lbs it is then

I almost want Condit to beat GSP, to force Anderson to fight someone interesting.

I dont know about catchweight either mate. If Anderson offered 195lbs Jones would have to change his whole training and diet. I reckon 205lbs is a hard enough cut in terms of dieting and avoiding putting on muscle, it might slow his rise to heavyweight by going against getting bigger naturally.

Good to hear he sounds a little more open to it. Id like to see him go after Bones if he fights and beats GSP

Jones couldn't make 195.