Wanderlei Silva looking to fight Chris Leben next spring in Toronto
by Giada Esposito on October 26, 2010

In a prospective matchup that is sure to leave fans of standup wars drooling, Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva is hoping to meet Chris "The Crippler" Leben when he makes his return to the Octagon next spring.

Silva was forced to bow out of a scheduled fight with Yoshihiro Akiyama earlier this year following an injury to his ACL that required surgery. With his recovery progressing well, Silva has turned his thoughts to his next opponent.

"I think I want to fight in April in Canada, I want to fight in Toronto," Silva told FightersOnly. "I think against Chris Leben. I want to fight with him next."

Silva (33-10-1 1 NC), who is well-known for his dangerous striking and ferocity in the cage, thinks Leben (25-6) provides an ideal stylistic matchup for himself.

"I think he is interesting, he is my size, he is aggressive, he fights to the front (comes forward)," said Silva. "I think we are going to make an interesting fight."

With six months still left to prepare for his return, Silva feels confident that he will be in excellent shape the next time he fights.

"This time one (operation) but I had one on the other knee before, but now I feel good, I start my recovery and I feel really good right now," Silva stated. "I tore my ACL, it was a really bad knee injury, but now I feel good, it's ok."

 |  (63) Comments Rob: Cool matchup. This should be a great fight. The Hitman: This will be a war. I'm pumped for it. I just wish it was a bit sooner. Marker28: Leben vs Wand is going to be available all day everyday once Wand gets back in shape from surgery, however I would like to see Wand make a run for the mw title. I don't see Leben as a tune-up or an easy opponent, but if he beats Leben he may still have to wait behind Nate or Okami. Wandering_Minstrel: *jumps up and down, clapping hands* Yes, yes, yes! xdusty: i think this would make for a pretty good fight. wand for the win and then he can fight chael coming off his suspension (if he wins). imagine chaels disrespect of brazil and trash talk and wandys reaction to it. Elvis Freshley: I'm taking Leben in this fight. While what D_V is saying is genuinely true: Wanderlei is a much more technical striker, is much more well rounded, and bring a considerable amount of experience to the table...I largely think that those things are irrelevant towards this fight. Wanderlei has shown many times in his career that in spite of his skills as a striker, he is a brawler. He comes forward, sets an unrelenting and often violent pace and guarantees fireworks. Wanderlei has NEVER in his career gone through an exceptionally technical 'bout, simply because he is not a technical fighter. He has the skills to be one, but Wanderlei is much more content and comfortable standing in the pocket and trading knees and elbows with his opponent. Let's not discredit Wanderlei as horrible, but let's not pretend that he's going to turn into Lyoto Machida when Leben is welcoming and asking for a brawl. Furthermore, you say that Wanderlei is faster than Leben. This is true as Leben is an extremely flat footed and slow striker, but once more let's not get things twisted. Wanderlei Silva is not Lyoto Machida, he is not Frankie Edgar, and he is not Michael Bisping...he won't dance on the outside or gracefully dodge Leben's strikes. He will stay in the pocket and brawl with Leben (see: play directly into Leben's hands), furthermore I think that Leben will have more success with Wanderlei than he did with Akiyama. As I can't recall anyone fearing the Wanderlei takedown even during his PRIDE days. You should remember that Wanderlei was also significantly faster than Rampage Jackson, a similar albeit prolonged (see: second or third round) rendition of that fight seems more likely to me than Wanderlei knocking out a man who has only been knocked out once and that's when Anderson Silva brought out a tire iron. Leben will never be a champion, but he can put on a show against Wanderlei and Wanderlei will play Leben's game--ultimately because Leben's game is Wanderlei's game. Leben's chin has been tested, Leben's chin has remained and it is the chin of Chris Leben that will be the main obstacle Wanderlei has to overcome...and unless he has a time machine and brings back a 2005 version of himself to take this fight--he won't. That's all. D_V: I think you guys are over analyzing things. Wanderlei can stay in the pocket and land first with no difficulty. He also could clinch and put a dirty beating on Leben and he HAS take downs and a good top position game at times. I bet he takes Leben down a couple times if he doesn't end it too soon. He fought at 205. Rampage hits like a super heavyweight. Chuck couldn't KO Wand, although he hurt him. Leben isn't going to. Seriously, Wanderlei has been tested by far superior athletes and he's not crumbling to Leben. Leben has a chin but he hasn't been hit by guys like Wanderlei with the relentless 30-40 strikes Wand will put together if he smells blood, which he will. I think Leben gets beaten to a bloody pulp here. He's not in Wanderlei Silva's league. Wanderlei is one of the greatest of all time. He looked better in his last fight than at any point in the last 2-3 years and he's motivated. The guy fights for his fans. He has more heart than any fighter at any weight division in the sport. The toronto fans will be 100% behind him and him only. He's going to kill Leben. B_Type13X2: I think Silva takes this fight, it will be a technical brawl and Silva has the more dangerous tools. Mtx: I keep going back and forwards. Wanderlei can get pretty stupid trying to please the fans (I appreciate this but still...) so he can get KOed any time. So I think this is more of Silva's fight to loose really.... horizontalcracker: Leben didn't KO Akiyama, he shouldn't KO Wanderlei. horizontalcracker: also, that might be the first time I've ever seen you use an exclamation point, I feel special B_Type13X2: Don't say Leben can't KO Wanderlei because it could happen it is just highly unlikely. Mickey knox: I like this thread. When I watched the Leben/Akiyama what I basically got from that was that Wanderlei would have beaten either of them on that night. He says he feels really good, and that we will that the real axe murderer again, soon, and I believe him. I just have to sit back and wait patiently for the gnarly beatdown he's got in store for Leben. Little_Kang: all I'll say is I LOL @ anyone that wandy will come back to "true form" for this.... his best days are behind him. Expect fewer and fewer highlight KO's and more outpointing to the decision from him. nygiant: Good matchup but Leben is slow as molases... IwishIwasMMA: Wandy could definitely KO Leben.. and the other way around as well.
HOW WILL THE THIAGO ALVES VS. MARTIN KAMPMANN FIGHT END AT UFC ON FX 2?
Alves def. Kampmann via TKO/KO
Alves def. Kampmann via submission
Alves def. Kampmann via decision
Kampmann def. Alves via TKO/KO
Kampmann def. Alves via submission
Kampmann def. Alves via decision
TAKE ANOTHER POLL!