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Anderson Silva Faces Superfight Setback Against Georges St-Pierre

2026-06-23 · Anderson Silva · Player Focus

Anderson Silva Faces Superfight Setback Against Georges St-Pierre

Anderson Silva's highly anticipated superfight against Georges St-Pierre never came to fruition.

What happened?

The UFC approached Georges St-Pierre about facing Anderson Silva in 2012, but discussions never progressed far. St-Pierre had several requirements before agreeing to the superfight, including better compensation and a catchweight bout. He wanted to be put under contract and compensated better for moving up to 185 pounds to face Silva.

Why it matters for Anderson Silva

Anderson Silva ruled the middleweight division for a record 2,457 days, compiling a historic 16-fight UFC win streak and 10 consecutive title defenses. His reign was snapped by Chris Weidman at UFC 162 in July 2013.

What comes next?

Georges St-Pierre dominated the welterweight division during a primary reign that lasted 2,064 days, successfully defending his title nine consecutive times. He vacated his title after a controversial split-decision victory over Johny Hendricks at UFC 167 in November 2013. St-Pierre recently suggested that the story behind the failed superfight may not have been that simple. He revealed that the UFC did approach him about facing Silva, but discussions never progressed far. The former two-division champion explained that he had to consider the challenges of moving up to 185 pounds to face Silva. He needed to change his training and try to get bigger, which would have required significant adjustments. St-Pierre's requirements for the superfight included a catchweight bout, given Silva's experience fighting at 170 pounds in PRIDE. He believed that Silva could have gone down to a lower weight class, but it seemed unlikely at the time. The failed superfight remains a topic of interest among fans, who continue to debate how the bout might have played out. Anderson Silva's legacy as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time remains unchanged, despite the missed opportunity to face St-Pierre. His record-breaking title reign and impressive win streak continue to inspire and influence new generations of fighters. The UFC's rise to global prominence during the late 2000s and early 2010s was fueled by the success of stars like Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre. Their dominant championship reigns and memorable performances helped establish the UFC as a major player in the world of sports.

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