Former five time UFC Heavy Weight Champ Tim “The Maine-iac” Silva will face Strikeforce Grand Prix winner Daniel Cormier on September 29th. Sylvia recently signed a five fight contract with Strikeforce, according to MMA Junkie and MMA Fighting. He has been campaigning for a comeback fight in the UFC of late, even stating he would fight for free one time, just to see if he still had what it took to climb back up the UFC heavy weight ranks. “Honestly, I don’t really care if I fight for the title, said Sylvia in a homemade video he posted on Youtube. “I just want to get back in the UFC and fight my ass off.”
It’s interesting that Sylvia signed a multi-fight contract with Strikeforce since Zuffa has stated its intentions in the past to fully close Strikeforce’s heavyweight division once their last two fighters finish their final fight on their Strikeforce contracts. I’m ready, I feel like I can beat 80% of the guys in the UFC, said Sylvia.
Regardless, Tim Sylvia hasn’t faced a top opponent in the sport since he lost to Fedor Emelianenko in 2008. Since then he has gone 7-2 in minor promotions. Dana White has been very vocal about Tim Sylvia’s place in the UFC and vehemently stated in previous interviews that Sylvia is far from a high caliber fighter and was the champ during the worst phase of the heavy weight division in the history of the UFC. In an appeal to the fans, Sylvia questions the logic of doubting his prowess. “If you don’t feel that I can, how bout you just make a push to get me back in the UFC just to see me get my ass kicked.”
It would’ve been interesting to see Sylvia fight a former great such as a Mirko Cro Cop or even Big Nog in a rematch. Instead he faces a monstrous step up in competition. This fight may be a short lived come back for Sylvia in the end. Cormier is too fast on his feet and won’t have a problem utilizing his Olympic caliber wrestling pedigree to dictate where the fight takes place.
But I can’t end on the note. Tim Sylvia was a great UFC Champion, and deserves more than any fighter in the sport outside of the Zuffa umbrella to be given another chance in the big show. I hope he can pull off a miracle in this one.
Below is a home made video by an honest Tim Sylvia, campaigning for his dream to return to the UFC. He also appeals to those that ardently dislike him for an explanation on why they feel the way they do.
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