{"id":219585,"date":"2017-01-26T13:07:22","date_gmt":"2017-01-26T21:07:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/?p=219585"},"modified":"2017-01-26T13:07:22","modified_gmt":"2017-01-26T21:07:22","slug":"anderson-silva-dives-into-why-he-wants-a-fight-against-conor-mcgregor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/mma-news\/anderson-silva\/anderson-silva-dives-into-why-he-wants-a-fight-against-conor-mcgregor\/","title":{"rendered":"Anderson Silva dives into why he wants a fight against Conor McGregor"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former UFC middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva wants a piece of the current UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor. <\/p>\n

Although technically two weight classes apart as of their last fights, McGregor has fought Nate Diaz twice at welterweight.<\/p>\n

Silva, currently ranked #7<\/a> in the middleweight division by the UFC, spoke with media in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ahead of UFC 208, as he is scheduled to take on #8 ranked UFC middleweight Derek Brunson<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Anderson<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI’d like to test myself against Conor because he\u2019s an interesting martial artist,\u201d Silva said of his desire to fight the Irishman (translated by Guilherme Cruz of MMA Fighting<\/a>). \u201cHis stand-up game is an intelligent game. Not because he\u2019s champion now, but for the martial arts challenge. I\u2019d like to see how these stand-up techniques, his and mine, would mix, and how that would go. But not to fight for a belt or anything like that. For the challenge, an interest, that thing about knowing how a fight like this would go.”<\/p>\n

Silva’s last fight was in the light heavyweight division, as he stepped in on two-days notice to take on champion Daniel Cormier<\/a> in a non-title bout at UFC 200. Although Silva has fought at 185 and 205 in the UFC, the former champion says he would cut more weight for a fight McGregor.<\/p>\n

\"ufc<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI believe he can make 176, 178 pounds, right? That\u2019s a weight I can get,\u201d said Silva. \u201cWe started this work and I got to 174, but we thought it would be better now to do these tests.<\/p>\n

“There was no fight booked, we made 174, and master (Rogerio) Camoes said \u2018man, you don\u2019t need this, you\u2019re fine, so go back to your division.\u2019 I know I can make 174 now, but my team and my doctor, Marcio Tannure, decided to stay in my division.\u201d<\/p>\n

What are your thoughts on a catchweight matchup between Conor McGregor and Anderson Silva? Let us know how you predict this one going in the comment section!
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