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UFC star Anderson Silva

MMA: St Pierre and Silva superfight on cards for UFC


LAS VEGAS // Dana White, the Ultimate Fighting Championship president, has confirmed a mixed martial arts superfight between the organisation's two most successful champions is on the cards.

Unbeaten middleweight champion Anderson Silva could face current welterweight champion Georges St Pierre if the latter can come through his forthcoming fight with interim champion Carlos Condit.

The Canadian has been on the shelf with a knee injury for more than a year, following his win over Jake Shields at UFC 129, but will face interim champ Condit in Quebec this November.

White admitted that if St Pierre can retain his title against Condit, a catchweight superfight against Brazilian star Silva could take place as their next bout - and would likely be held at the 80,000 seater Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.

"I think we're pretty close," he told a TV interview last night.

"If Georges beats Condit, that could be the next fight. These guys want to fight each other now.

"If that fight happens, it'll probably be at Dallas Texas stadium."

St Pierre normally fights at 170lbs while Silva fights at 185lbs. White admitted the bout between the two would probably be at a 180lb limit.

White confirmed the UFC, which is part-owned by Abu Dhabi-based Flash Entertainment, had lost millions on the scrapped UFC 151 card which had been due to take place last weekend.

However, he insisted he did not bear a grudge against light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who had refused to fight a replacement opponent at short notice.

"I've no animosity towards Jones," he said.

"We'll find out how our relationship is as we move along. This thing is a little weird.

"Jon is a young guy and he's made mistakes that young people make. Who doesn't at his age? If I went back to being 23 years old with a ton of fame and a ton of money, that's when you make all your mistakes.

"The great thing about making your mistakes in your 20s is by the time you're established yourself in your late 20s and 30s, you've already made all your mistakes and you can conduct yourself the way you should.

"I give Jon Jones a lot of slack. The guy is young."

sports@thenational.ae

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