There are few in the know in Mixed Martial Arts who will
challenge you on the assertion that Anderson Silva is the best pound-for-pound
fighter in MMA. The UFC Middleweight Champion has very little left to prove.
Tonight, he is the headline attraction as Ultimate Fight President Dana White
has decided to counter-program against the Affliction: Banned Mixed Martial Arts
pay per view. Silva is going to face a challenge he's never faced before in his
undefeated career. He's going to fight in the 205 Light Heavyweight Division.
Silva will face James Irvin in the main event at the Pearl in the Palms in Las
Vegas, live on SpikeTV.
There's tons of media on tonight's event. The best story so far
can be found in
THE LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL,
which
has a story which you can read
HERE .
Reporter Adam Hill tells the behind-the-scenes story about Silva taking this
fight.
Five weeks ago, Anderson Silva was enjoying a
working vacation in Hawaii, while his manager was home in Redondo Beach, Calif.,
barbecuing with friends.
That's when Ed Soares received the text
message.
Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White was
requesting that Silva take a fight out of his weight class to help the
organization put together a card for basic cable TV to go head to head with the
first pay-per-view event of the new Affliction promotion.
While some in Silva's camp were hesitant, the UFC middleweight
champion from Brazil quickly agreed. So tonight, Silva will headline a card at
The Pearl in the Palms in a light heavyweight bout against James
Irvin.
"I'm an employee, and I also feel like a member of
the UFC family," Silva said through Soares, who translated at an open workout
Thursday. "It was a personal favor to Dana White to take the fight at this
weight."
Silva is considered one of
the best, if not the best, pound-for-pound mixed martial artists in the world.
His belt will not be on the line tonight, but he will face a stiff challenge in
Irvin, a big, strong fighter who knocked out Houston Alexander in eight seconds
in his last fight.
Silva is not fazed when
reminded that he's taking a fight against a larger opponent with knockout power
at a weight he has not competed at -- and on short notice.
"All of the variables are
valid facts," Silva said. "But I'm here to do my job."
The oddsmakers don't seem
bothered by any of the factors, either. Silva is a minus-700 favorite over
Irvin.
The odds mostly are based
on Silva's success in the UFC. In six fights since joining the organization, he
has looked unbeatable. He has won all six by stoppage, with none of them
reaching the third round.
"It's awesome in the sport
right now to have a guy that's the clear-cut pound-for-pound best fighter,"
Irvin said. "I'm honored to have the opportunity to fight
him."
MMA News 
