3 Keys to UFC 90

After a lackluster event last weekend in the UK, the UFC is getting a shot at redemption this weekend with UFC 90: Silva vs. Cote. Despite a lack of a cool event title like "Unstoppable" or "Bad Intentions" the card does feature the seemingly unstoppable Anderson Silva and he probably has some bad intentions in store for his opponent, Patrick Cote. The middleweight title fight is obviously the most important reason why fans should be excited about the card, but it isn't the only one. Below are some of the other important factors, of what I believe are the three most important fights of the night.

1. Reigning middleweight champion Anderson Silva has looked so dominant over the last two years, the only person seen as legitimate threat to end his reign, is himself. The "Spider" has recently mentioned his plans to retire when his current, six fight contract expires. At his current pace, that would mean Silva would call it a career, within the next two years. Why is that important now? Because retirement talks are usually never a good sign of being motivated. Part of what makes any athlete great, is a burning desire to be the best. Silva has already proven that and seems to already be thinking about his post fight career. If Silva's motivation is lacking, than Patrick Cote's chances of an upset go up. If Silva is focused and doesn't let anything distract him, than the hard hitting Canadian likely doesn't stand a chance.

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UFC's Silva sees end of the road, maybe

The man UFC calls the world's greatest pound-for-pound fighter may or may not be embarking on his farewell tour.
Anderson Silva's manager, Ed Soares, says his client wants to retire at 35, a milestone he'll reach in 18 months.

"He's got six fights left on his contract, the first being Patrick Cote," Soares says, referring to Silva's opponent Saturday at UFC 90 in Chicago (pay-per-view, 10 ET). "I know for sure he's going to fight six fights in the UFC."

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Is Anderson Silva as good as his hype?

CHICAGO – I mentioned to a couple of buddies last week that I was heading here to cover UFC 90 and was interested in finding the best deep dish pizza.

I’m somewhat of a connoisseur of pizza, as anyone who has seen my waistline in recent years can attest. When I was a kid, my diet was pretty much hot dogs, hamburgers and pizza. As a worldly, sophisticated adult with a palate to match, of course my tastes have changed.

And so, these days, the diet consists mainly of burritos from Zaba’s, Nathan’s hot dogs, Double Doubles with spread and onion only from In ‘N’ Out Burger and the thin crust Pepperoni Lover’s from Pizza Hut (which is only because I’ve found no truly good independent shops in Las Vegas).

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Cote used to being overlooked

CHICAGO – Patrick Cote sat back at Thursday’s UFC 90 press conference as the others fielded most of the questions.

His boss, Dana White, was asked if UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva could contend for the light heavyweight title. White said Silva is two wins away from such a scenario.

Silva was asked if he felt he could go down to welterweight and face champion Georges St. Pierre. Silva said he felt he couldn’t make the cut, and that St. Pierre should jump up a weight class to make it happen.

On and on went the questions about the future of the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter.

But Cote (13-4) is the roadblock in the champ’s immediate path. On a five-fight win streak, the Quebec City native will challenge Silva in the main event of Saturday’s card at the Allstate Arena in nearby Rosemont.


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Dana White: Anderson Silva Is 2 Fights Away From Fighting for the Light Heavyweight Title

UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva will defend his title against Patrick Cote on Saturday at UFC 90, but UFC President Dana White says Silva could be fighting soon with another belt on the line.

White said today that Silva would like to alternate between fighting at middleweight (185 pounds) and light heavyweight (205 pounds) and that he could be a contender for the light heavyweight belt while continuing to defend his middleweight belt.

"He wants to keep the 185-pound belt and keep going back and forth," White said. "Should he win, he's probably two fights away from fighting for the light heavyweight title, too."


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UFC 90 'Silva vs. Cote' Preview

UFC 90: Silva vs Cote is set to take place on October 25, 2008 from the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. The Chicago area. Though MMAFighting.com’s number one rated middleweight Anderson Silva will take on Canada’s own Patrick “The Predator” Cote in the main event, there is another fight that could quite possibly steal the show.

Thiago Alves vs. Josh Koscheck.

Koscheck, a late replacement for an injured Diego Sanchez, is probably the only fighter, save Georges St. Pierre, that could’ve walked into this fight without causing a big-time loss in excitement.

Now onto the predictions.


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UFC 90: Patrick Cote Won't Hesitate to Go to the Ground With Anderson Silva

On Wednesday I watched Patrick Cote, who will fight Anderson Silva for the middleweight championship at UFC 90, working on his ground game with trainer Fabio Holanda:
Cote is mostly known as a stand-up striker, while Silva has a black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu, but both Cote and Holanda told me they're not afraid to take the fight to the ground.

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