"One reason I decided not to [move to middleweight] was because I was like, 'Why would I drop to 185 just to be in the same spot I’m in at 205?' It didn’t make any sense to me. If an opportunity came along that made more sense then it would be worth the sacrifice. If it was a title shot or against a really good, top contender something like that, it would be something that people wanted to see, it would be something I would think about. I’m already at the top of my division and for me to go down to 185 is kind of like now I’ve got to start over and prove myself at 185. Because I am good at 205, but whose to say I’d be the same fighter at 185 when I cut that weight? There’s a lot of variables that can come into play. When my career’s all said and done I want to be able to look back and say I competed against some of the best guys ever in history. To me to be able to get a chance to compete against Anderson Silva would just be an amazing experience, and something I’d be able to take with me forever, to be able to say I went against the best guy and beat the best guy. I do believe I can beat Anderson Silva, and I believe that the skills that I have is something he’d have hard time dealing with, but to compete against the guy, first and foremost, would be an honor in and of itself."

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans today (Jan. 21, 2013) told members of the mixed martial arts (MMA) media (see it here) that he believes he has the skill set to defeat reigning middleweight champion Anderson Silva. As of now, there are two things standing in his way. One of them is a 20-pound difference in weight. The other is Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, who could leave a sour taste in "Suga's" mouth on the main card of UFC 156 next month in Las Vegas, Nevada. I, for one, would much rather see him tangle with "The Spider" than rematch Jon Jones, but does anyone out there in the peanut gallery believe Evans could pull off a win against one of the sport's pound-for-pound best? Anyone?