MMA Junkie reports that Anderson Silva has signed a 10 fight contract with the UFC. Silva claims that he requested a 4 fight contract.
Dana White claims Silva, 38, requested the 10 fight deal. Regardless, the deal will take Silva into his 40s based on his schedule of taking a couple fights per year. No terms were disclosed. Despite White’s issues with Silva in the past (e.g., UFC 112 and docking Silva $50K for no-showing recent media event), the company realizes Silva’s importance.
Payout Perspective:
No word on whether the contract is guaranteed or not. In other sports like the NFL, teams shy away from long term deals with aging athletes. However, there are examples of companies signing older athletes. Recently, Floyd Mayweather signed a 6 fight deal with Showtime at the age of 35. Mayweather’s recent fight with Roberto Guerrero did less than expected on PPV which has precipitated a September fight with Canelo Alvarez. Silva is on top of his game at 38. But, how close is he to that cliff of being the best to just an average fighter. If he were to go on a losing streak or become less than his current self in the Octagon, will he be bought out of his contract? Of course, if he has Randy Couture-like longevity, the UFC may have locked Silva in at a good time.
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Hard to argue that he is anywhere near on the way down. Other than his first fight with Sonnen he has done nothing but dominate. He’s so favored that on our website we rarely generate any action and no one will bet against him because he is so favored. Wonder what the odds are he’ll finish all the fights of this contract.
I expect them to do the same with GSP and Jones in order to control their payscales and dissuade them from starting their own promotions with their brand names.
This is called living and learning and protecting the brand. Silva will never finish this contract. IF he does it will take a lot of protecting and careful opponent selection. What the UFC wants to avoid if what has happened many times in the past. A huge name synonymous with the UFC can no longer hang and retires. Then gets a huge offer to fight a fight or two in another promotion. Or they are washed up and t keep them from leaving to another promotion the UFC has to keep resigning them and keeping them relevant. If you have ever had any value in the UFC they will not let you go. When you are washed up they will give you fights that will have you winning and losing every other fight until your drawing power is gone and you are no value to a rival promotion or until you retire still owing them fight. This is what happens to all the recent retired fighters. Currently what is happening to Franklin, Wandy, Cung, and many others. To be honest. None of these guys are worthy of being in the UFC at this point in their career imo. But their name is to valuable to release to a rival. Because of the name people still think they are great and they would make a rival a huge player and allow them to get over their own younger fighters. The UFC is smart. They are trying to get these big stars to end their career in the UFC. I think it is great. I only wish the first generation of fighters in the UFC were allowed the same. It would have been great if the Royces, Ken’s, Tank’s could have made a good living and retired in the UFC rather than having to fight in small shows and end their career in the minors. Im sure Silva would love to end his career in the UFC and this takes away any temptation that a Bjorn Ribny doesn’t offer him a lot of money in his mid to late 40’s to come in and get smashed in Bellator.
It will inevitably happen across the board. The brand is the fighter names
“Mayweather’s recent fight with Roberto Guerrero did less than expected on PPV which has precipitated a September fight with Canelo Alvarez.”
Really? Not even going into the fact that all the boxing sites disagree with you Jason. The idea that something didn’t do as well as expected, so they are rushing to do it again, doesn’t even make sense. The Sep fight was talked about before the May fight even happened, so how does the may fight precipitate anything?? Or were you making up stuff to try to get eyes on your work?
Mayweather-Guerrero did less than expected. Forbes wrote it, ESPN wrote it
MMA journalist really have to slow things down for boxing fans. They have tunel vision and can not grasp anything to complicated. Like a sport with more than 1 Dimension. Do to the low level of intelligence typically seen in a boxing fan. They tend to be more aggressive. Therefore lashing out when confused.
I think b.s. is usually the one lashing out in this website….lol…come on now tend to be more aggressive? Does the” “brainsmasher” name sound non-aggressive hahaha..u basically just described yourself….
How much did silva get for the 10 fight deal?
Lol No figures?….must really be small amount….not worth mentioning