The much-anticipated bout between Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz is set to main event the UFC 183 event scheduled for January 31st at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Right now, Silva is a solid (-411) favorite, with Diaz returning at (+329).
Silva is going to have big advantages in height and reach, and with his precise counter striking, Diaz is going to have a lot of risks as he tries to get in close so that he can throw his punches. What Diaz may be facing a lot less of is Silva’s evasions and movement as Silva possibly has to compensate because of his injury. Having anyone a 4-to-1 favorite after they are coming off of that type of leg injury is putting a lot of faith into a fighter.
The UFC will see the money meter move with this fight and to keep that train going they are hoping for an Anderson Silva win. Diaz, though still a draw, has continued to be trouble for the UFC, and his fighting hasn’t been winning him any new fans. He has not fought for more than a year and, prior to that break, had lost his last two. His act has worn thin. So even if he goes out on his shield after a war with Silva, if he pulls his usual complaints about pay and says he wants to retire, it will be even more tired.
The UFC wants Silva to win, and they even have his next opponent lined up in all likelihood. The UFC would love to set up what was really the first talked about super fight that they were never able to pull off: Anderson Silva vs Georges St Pierre. St Pierre, the long time welterweight champion who has been retired for more than a year has said he is open to a comeback and UFC President Dana White has not ruled it out.
St Pierre will not be returning for his welterweight belt, as he has bigger paydays in mind. After Silva’s catastrophic injury, St Pierre is probably going to be a bit less reticent when the fight gets offered this time.
