First to lose: B.J. Penn, Georges St. Pierre or Anderson Silva?
The three most dominant fighters the UFC has (I’m leaving Brock Lesnar out of this due to his injury, but he’s going to be tough to beat whenever he’s healthy) are Penn, St. Pierre and Silva. They have dominated the lightweight, welterweight and middleweight divisions for awhile now and seem to be on a completely different level than all their challengers.
So, my question for you is, which one of the three loses first? Now that it’s confirmed Frank Edgar has the next title shot against B.J. Penn (Dana White said Maynard didn’t do enough Monday to earn it) and Dan Hardy is next in line for St. Pierre, is it crazy to think Anderson Silva will lose first?
For the past two years, Silva has been the most dominant UFC champ, handling every opponent thrown his way with ease. Even when questions began to arise with Silva, he silenced his critics by manhandling Forrest Griffin. And of the three divisions, the middleweight division is the weakest. If you asked me this a year ago, I would’ve thought Thiago Alves had a good chance to take down GSP and that either Kenny Florian or Diego Sanchez could have a shot with Penn. Penn and St. Pierre utterly destroyed the trio.
Still, St. Pierre and Penn have upcoming opponents that they will be expected to win. Silva has a bit of an unknown in Vitor Belfort. Belfort handled Rich Franklin, which is something only Silva has done.
Even if he survives Belfort (which he probably will), with the way he’s been flirting with the light heavyweight division, he might get another big-time fight right away. And with Silva’s contract winding down, I don’t know that we’ll get anymore Thales Leites-level fights for Silva.
Now, if a B.J. Penn-GSP rematch is made, perhaps it could be Penn that loses first. Otherwise, I think Silva will be the next elite champion to fall in the UFC.
(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, Inc.)
Kevin Richardson has been a fan of mixed martial arts competition ever since UFC 3, when 600-pound sumo wrestler Emmanuel Yarborough was beaten by Keith Hackney. Kevin will cover the world of MMA — in Baltimore, nationally and internationally. He plans to take readers into the locker rooms and MMA schools, where they'll hear from local fighters and trainers. If you have a news tip or suggestions for the blog, please 
Comments
You make a very good point that Silva only has, what, 2 or 3 fights left on his contract and the UFC wont waste them. The thing is if he is still champ at the end of his contract he is going to run into the whole Coulture thing. The UFC owns you and he wont get his Roy Jones Jr. fight. If Silva loses it will be because he want to lose or GSP finally bulks up and jumps to 185 for a superfight. Silva loses at the hands of GSP or because he wants to. I hope Silva has more character than to throw a fight.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 14, 2010 3:02 PM
I agree with you. Silva is ripe for a defeat but I think Vitor is the man to do it. If he doesn't win then I think GSP would be next and BJ I don't think will lose until he starts getting old. Vitor has plenty fast & accurate hands to catch Silva and he also has a great chin to take Silva's shots. Also, Vitor's more focused. Vitor doesn't care about how upset Anderson is or all the S**T he's talking about Vitor. Silva's getting to comfortable and I think that because he's telling the UFC who he will and won't fight. We've heard this from Silva before when he said he won't fight Machida. Is it that he won't? or doesn't want to lose? Either way, that type of thinking instead focusing on defeating whoever the UFC wants him to face is why Anderson is ripe for a loss and Vitor is easily capable. I do not however think GSP canb ever beat Silva, even now. Silva's too skilled for GSP even if there wasn't a size difference
Posted by: Matt | January 14, 2010 8:46 PM
silva will not fall to GSP he is to good and as i recall silva has never KO or TKO in his career the only was Silva will lose is by submission thats the only way he has lost in his career besides his DQ for illegal head kick
Posted by: Ricky | January 14, 2010 10:27 PM
are you serious? Silva will not lose at the hands of Vitor and im not just saying this because im a Silva fan but what does Vitor have on Silva? hes fast and accurate ok silva's head movement is to fast his hands are too quick his bjj is legit and he's never been k.o.'d......vitor has lost to couture twice by tko, lost to dan henderson, tito ortiz, chuck liddel....who has Silva lost too? yushin okami he's nothin hes too scared to fight Silva in the UFC becuz he knows he'll lose and f.y.i. to you idiots Silva's new boxing coach is Freddie Roach middleweight is all Silva =)
Posted by: M | January 15, 2010 2:44 AM
The next one has to be bj..his record isn't even that good..he is just a hard match for anyone at 155..if silva were to fight frank mir he is most likely going to loose also..I doubt gsp will be stopped anytime soon
Posted by: brettthemanmoran | January 15, 2010 9:02 PM
Ussually I think your oppinions are retarded. I'm not really sure why I read your articles, but this makes sense. Hopefully Anderson will prove us wrong by destroying Vitor and maybe you will to by writing more articles like this one.
Posted by: Perry | January 16, 2010 3:18 PM
brettthemanmoran, why would silva move up to heavyweight? he hasnt made a full move to light heavyweight, i dont see why he would just jump to heavyweight and take on who will most likely because the interim heavyweight champion, while we are making fantasy fights lets match up clay guida with Forrest griffin, Maywheather with sean sherk, and Randy Coutoure with Fedor
Posted by: Mike V | January 17, 2010 12:16 PM
Bj Penn will not loose to any lightweights in the ufc. He probly won't loose until he gets older and slower. But Bj Penn would probly loose if he had a fight with Gsp again. Gsp is probly the only 1 who can put Bj on his back and keep him there. Gsp probly won't loose at welterweight. Its a pretty week division. And I honestly think Gsp would beat Silva with ease if they ever fight. Cause Silva does have 1 big weekness his takedown defense. I think Gsp is smart enough and strong enough to put him on his back and keep him there. Silva will not loose at middle weight. Its a very very week division. He handled forrest griffin at light heavy weight but that's cause griffin was dumb enough to stand and strike with him. He have a way tougher time agaisnt the wrestlers of the division like rashad evans and rampage jackson. Silva says he would fight at heavy weight but I don't see him being dumb enough to fight brock lesnar shane carwin or valasquez. So I actually think out the 3 Bj Penn, Gsp and Silva I think silva will be the first to loose.
Posted by: Ricco | January 25, 2010 9:26 AM
silva is to big for 185 he is a 205 guy he walks around at 220 when not fighting move him to 205 permently he will lose quick but with that said i dont think he will loose at 185 any time soon
Posted by: arrick | February 20, 2010 7:51 PM