A few snippets:
Prior to Silva's flooring Forrest Griffin earlier this month in Philadelphia, SI.com confirmed that Silva's representatives had spoken with Zuffa about the heralded UFC middleweight champion moving up to heavyweight for the first time in his career.
Not only that, they already had an opponent in mind: Frank Mir.
...
It would indeed be impressive for a former world champion at 167 pounds to climb all the way to heavyweight, where blockbusters against Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, or, dare we say it, Brock Lesnar, a fight Silva would accept if the money is right, could materialize.
...
The best bouts might come at light heavyweight -- Silva vs. Rampage; Rashad; Shogun; and down the road, Jon Jones or Gegard Mousasi -- but with Silva and Machida refusing to fight, an extended stay at 205 doesn't make sense. By the sound of things, the talented Brazilians won't compete no matter how much pressure comes down from Dana White and the UFC.
...
"I'm gonna say there's no way they fight," said Soares, who also manages Machida.
What does that leave? Heavyweight.
Grab the whole article here:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/w ... index.html
Certainly an interesting one, its not like this is unheard of (think of how many weight class's BJ has fought at and against), but in todays MMA game for someone to jump up two weight class's ... its typically the other way around.
However, I can't imagine this being his next fight or anything, and should Machida lose his title, I am sure with the way the LHW plains are laid out, Silva could make a title run without having to go through Machida.
Wouldn't Silva have to bulk up to 220-225 range ? even then he'd be a small heavyweight. He is most comfortable at 185-205 range, that's 30-40 lbs he'd have to add.
