Super Fights: The Obstacles

Super fights, especially lately, have been a much discussed topic in the UFC. Ever since Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva embarked upon their dominant championship reigns, there has been talk of a super fight between the two. A fight to determine the pound for pound king. For the longest time though, this seemed to be a pipe dream. 

The emergence of Jon Jones, however, seems to have reignited life into the subject. It has now become MMA's version of a love triangle.

Lately we have begun to be teased more and more by the UFC. Dana White, in particular, has been very vocal about making super fights between the big three. 

So why does the UFC seem to be pushing the super fights with vigor lately? Maybe it is because they need to strike while the iron is hot. There appears to be a vast number of reasons why the fights won't happen. So why not try to make them as quickly as possible while all the pieces are still in place.

It looks as if we are oh so close to witnessing a combination of the top three pound-for-pound fighters in the world do battle inside the octagon. Despite it feeling like a very real possibility, there are a number of potential roadblocks.

So. What are the obstacles that could prevent a potential super fight involving Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva and Jon Jones?

Well, for starters, Anderson Silva is the linchpin to this whole concept. As he is in the middle of the trio, any hopes of a super fight rest on him. We have three fighters and two possible fights, both of which Silva is a participant. Luckily, it seems that out of three, Silva is the one most fond of the idea.

Silva is set to defend his middleweight title against Chris Weidman at UFC 162 in July. Now, if he was to lose, would the super fights fall part? The whole reason these super fights are enticing is because they are pitting three, seemingly unbeatable, world champions against each other. The allure would be somewhat lost if Silva is coming of a loss and is no longer a champion. The odds are unquestionably in Silva's favour but it would be foolish to count Weidman. He is a world class grappler who many are tipping for the upset. According to Dana White, Weidman has already apologized for ruining the super fights.

"I talked to Chris Weidman myself. Guy looks me right in the eye and says, 'I'm telling you, I apologize that I'm going to f**k up all your super-fights and I'm gonna be your next champion. What I will do for you is I'll give him (Silva) an immediate rematch in Madison Square Garden as soon as he loses."

Next up is Georges St-Pierre. Who, of the three, seems least keen to engage in a super fight. As he is at the bottom end of this trio, he can only fight one man, Anderson Silva. Now, whenever he is asked a question regarding Anderson Silva and a possible fight, his demeanor visibly changes and he avoids the question like a seasoned politician. It wouldn't be completely unjustified if one was to opine that St-Pierre doesn't want to fight Silva. Which is, ultimately, what matters.

It has been all but confirmed that St-Pierre will fight Johny Hendricks. Which many are predicting will be his toughest test to date. However, it is important to note that this isn't set in stone. Dana White has said on multiple occasions that he hopes to put on a super fight by the end of the year, ideally at Madison Square Garden to celebrate the UFC's 20th anniversary in November. Which is approximately the time that the St-Pierre-Hendricks would take place. So either Hendricks gets his title shot or we have to wait to see St-Pierre-Silva. If we do see St-Pierre-Hendricks before a super fight, which seems the most likely option, then there is the distinct possibility that he gets beat. Which would obviously dampen the desire for a St-Pierre-Silva super fight.

Another issue with St-Pierre is that it was recently announced that he will play Batroc the Leaper in Marvel's Captain America: The Winter Soldier. It is unclear, at this stage, how this will impact his immediate future. But it is safe to assume that he will be taking some time away from the sport. He is famous for his preparation so it is unlikely he would do it alongside a fight camp. So will St-Pierre even fight again in 2013? Who knows. 

Lastly, we have the final piece of this puzzle, Jon Jones. Now, Jones can only fight Anderson Silva and this fight can only happen at 205 pounds. Which is interesting as it is the only common ground we have in super fight territory because Silva has fought at 205 before in the UFC. He has fought three times in the light-heavyweight division, winning all three bouts via first round knockout. Granted, they were against limited opposition but nevertheless it is the only overlap there is in the Venn diagram of UFC super fights. 

The only issue with a Jones-Silva super fight at 205 is that it doesn't seem like Jones is going to be sticking around at 205 for much longer. A move to heavyweight has been a much touted option for Jones, he is still young and filling out his 6'4" frame. However, this could be happening much sooner than was previously anticipated. In January, Jones suggested that his inevitable move to heavyweight could be happening as early as this year. It seems the window of opportunity for Jones and Silva to face off could be narrowing. 

Another potential obstacle in the way of Jones's involvement in a super fight, is his upcoming fight with Chael Sonnen. Even though this fight is somewhat controversial and many believe that Sonnen doesn't stand a chance, this is MMA and that means that anything can happen. In my opinion, there are a couple of things that Sonnen brings to the table that Jones hasn't experienced in his title reign so far. One is world class wrestling, and the other is the likelihood that he will not be intimidated or in awe of the unconventional champion. Jones possesses the ability to stump world class fighters, his unique style has caused his opponents to almost freeze. I doubt that will happen to Sonnen, he will come to fight. Fighting Chael Sonnen is never an easy task and it is one that Jones shouldn't overlook.

There we have it, the three men in this super fight triangle and the obstacles they face in order to compete against one another. 

So who knows if the stars will ever align. One thing is for certain, for them to do so, an awful lot has to fall into place.