Battle of the Silvas, Anderson vs Wand: Why it makes sense and why Dana White has no other option.

Stuff doesn't always work out the way you want it to.

Girls, work, health, money...MMA Pay per view events from the top fighting promotion featuring the Best pound for pound fighter alive.

Deal with it.

In reality, aside from the "shadow sparring" main event, most of UFC 97 was above average (more on that Tuesday). It was Above Average with a few glimmers of awesome. Typically that would be enough to keep everyone happy. The only problem is that we were all expecting a Superhero in Black and Yellow shorts. Twice now we have been left waiting. Instead of a superhero, we see a regular old Human Being.

Why?

Is he too good? No one wants to engage standing up so nothing happens. Based on that thought alone, you could make the argument that "The Spider" is just as much to blame as his terrified opponents. Right? I mean when Thales refused to attack...Silva should have gone on the offensive...right? No sir, that is wrong.

Is he too smart?. He does not need to win in spectacular fashion, he only has to win. Thales knew he was losing in the 3rd and 4th...why not go for broke? What is the worst that can happen? The best thing would have been a lucky shot or maybe another take down. So what if he gets clipped? He was losing anyway and he knew it. He was hoping that Andersons ego was going to get the better of him and it did not. Here is the problem...Smart Champ = Boring fights highly probable.

Is Dana Stumped?. Dana has not met a problem that he has ever been afraid of confronting (and sometimes fixing) with his non PC mouth. Until now. Yes, I know he has said he was ashamed...didn't want to go to the press meeting...so on and so forth...however he seems to be unwilling to directly slam Silva. Simply saying "I don't know what's going on" and that Anderson "needs a challenge". Almost any other fighter would get full frontal Dana...Spider gets the PG version...on lithium and bong hits. Shit, this is a guy who told BJ to stop whining and get in the gym.

Does Silva Care? Dana knows that Silva is going to Boxing PPV valhalla with Rpy Jones Jr. after his UFC contract is over so he needs to cash in of his P4P gem now...RIGHT FUCKING NOW. Which brings the big question: Who does he fight next?

GSP? Maybe...certainly some day. Not if Alves beats GSP first....either way it's too far away.

Maia? No thanks...saw that movie before.

Bisbing? Henderson? Perhaps. But he will need to fight before the winner of that fight is known.

He needs a fighter that will FIGHT...a fighter not afraid to lose...a fighter like Chuck Liddell had Chuck not lost then retired...a fighter whose style spawned the nickname "The Axe Murderer". That is the only answer to the AS puzzle...Wanderlei Silva.

Either at 185 (War is declared??!!) or at 205 which would leave the door open for Maia to get his shot at the 185 belt. If Anderson wins the battle...he earns his fans respect back (and Danas) and no one could fault Wandy for losing to the best. Plus, if they did fight at 205 Wandy can still make a run at 185 after the fight...regardless of the outcome.

Write this down...print it out. That is the next fight that the UFC offer to the Spider. Don't agree? Tell me why it does not make sense.

It does make sense...you know it, I know it, everyone knows it. Including the Silva

Hating Tito Ortiz is getting very old

You could make a case that Tito Ortiz, more times than not, gets an unfair shake when MMA fans discuss him and his career. While I feel that most critics are not keeping the big picture in mind, I also can't help but wonder if he is responsible for some of this negative attention.

DISCLAIMER: I am referring to his skill as a fighter only. His skill as an announcer is god-awful...entertaining in a odd way but terrible nonetheless. So that that out of your mind while reading.

The fighter who helped carry the UFC torch through a challenging time is now the butt of several jokes while his skill in the ring has been called into question by the MMA Illuminati. I think people need to take a closer look and cut him some slack.

Over the last five years Tito is 5-3-1. Granted, two of those wins were over a washed up Ken Shamrock. However, he also beat Patrick Cote, Forrest Griffin and Vitor Belfort. All three loses were from two of the most dominant fighters in the weight class...Chuck Liddell and Lyoto Machida (who admits to almost going unconscious from Titos triangle at the end of the fight). Add to that a draw (that could have easily been a win) against the undefeated LHW Champ Rashad Evans and you have the last five years of Titos fight record...all with a badly injured back.

It is also worth pointing out (to those who are not aware) he did not pick his fights...Joe Silva and Zuffa did. He can't help it if they wanted to cash in on the rivalry (and they did) between him and Ken Shamrock.

The last five years are really not that bad.

In fact, it's very similar or better than other featured UFC fighters during the same time frame. So why the extra harshness for Tito?

Is it a "live by the sword...die by the sword" situation? Is the brash "Bad Boy" whose grave digger celebration and incessant trash talking getting what he deserves?

Is it is the Dana White Effect? Many have learned the hard way what happens when you cross Mr White...something that Tito has done on a regualr basis?

Is it that the fraternity of fighters does not accept him and has cast him out as a leper? Hard to believe as Tito has always been a champion for fighters rights...making more money etc...

Or maybe he is just a very easy target at the low end of a very rough and unforgiving totem pole. Is it just too easy to hate Tito Ortiz?

If that is the reason, it's a stupid one.

Charles "Mask" Lewis (RIP) had many detractors who criticized him and his brand as being "bad for the sport"...in fact, they even used that as a tag line in an advertisement. However, once the finality of death took him away...all you heard was the indisputable positives of his life and contributions to the sport. Don't you think Mask would have loved to hear how
important everyone thought he was...when he was alive?

Consider this when thinking of Tito. I am not suggesting that you throw any pity his way...he certainly does not need it. However, keep a counterbalance in mind when trashing his career. It's easy to Pig Pile on Tito and talk about his big head or his porn star wife or his fading skills.

However, we shouldn't forget what he did to help the sport that we all love get to this place. At the risk of sounding over-dramatic, what if he were to die tomorrow? Clearly he would be
remembered as a pioneer. Why not think of him in those terms now?

Just don't let him announce another fight card.