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<h3><a href="/go=news.detail&gid=437873" target="_blank">
Jones: [Silva] abused his gift
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<a href="/go=news.detail&gid=437873" ><img class="photo" src="http://img.mixedmartialarts.com/method=get&rs=80&q=75&x=3&y=18&w=310&h=165&ro=0&s=jon-jones-alexander-gustafsson-06-04-13-10-1-38-252.jpg" /></a>
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<p>Seems like everybody has been chiming in on what exactly went wrong for Anderson Silva at UFC 162. Ed Soares spoke with 'The MMA Hour' yesterday and Vitor Belfort aired his gripes on Twitter. Today UFC champion Jon Jones put in his two cents during the UFC 165 press conference:</p>
"I think Anderson Silva is a magnificent fighter. I think that he has an extraordinary gift. I think he's gotten to the point where he really believes in his gift and he's comfortable with his gift. He abused his gift, disrespected his gift, by disrespecting his opponent.
Martial arts is a sport that is traditionally based around honor and integrity. You treat people with respect. He somehow lost sight of that and paid the ultimate price for it. I'm not over the Anderson Silva hype train. He was fighting at a masterful level, he just got disrespectful and the War Gods made him pay for it. He's still great in my book."
A rematch needs to happen, Chris deserves all the credit in the world but Silva can come back, it seems like he still has his skills at his age, now he needs to get down to business and fight Chris.
I used to get bugged by Silva antics, especially the whole crap he pulled with Damian Maia. I think its just his style of fighting.
I've watched all of his fights as I am sure many of you have. He's a showman, through and through guys.
I don't feel that he disrespected his "gift" because part of that gift is being able to keep the hands low, feint, etc in order to get his opponent to commit to punching. Then, he counters. All the respect to the new champ Chris Weidman. All the respect to Bones Jones too. But Bones hasn't done anything near what Silva has done yet. He himself is a HUGE risktaker inside the octogon.
Bottom line is that Anderson played his game, and paid for playing that game. Its that simple.
nothing against Weidman at all... but EVERY single one of Andys previous opponents would have done exactly the same thing to him if he has stood there, hands down hanging his chin in the air...
I can see everyone's point of view here. Weidman skillfully capitalized on Silva's disrespect.
This is not the first time Silva has "clowned" around and didn't respect his opponent's skill, but no one else was skillful and composed enough like Weidman to make Silva pay (during his UFC career).
Anderson didn't resign to losing, didn't beat himself, there was no fix, etc. Weidman beat him and deserves credit.
Master Bater - nothing against Weidman at all... but EVERY single one of Andys previous opponents would have done exactly the same thing to him if he has stood there, hands down hanging his chin in the air...