(Picture by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC through Getty Photographs)
UFC Corridor-of-Famer Wanderlei Silva is 48 years previous and hasn’t competed since he misplaced to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in September 2018. Nonetheless, he’s one in every of dozens of recognizable names included within the draft pool for the upcoming MMA league, the World Struggle League.
Followers who’re very accustomed to Silva and the wars he has been in over the course of his profession requested the GFL’s official X account if Silva’s inclusion was real.
In line with the GFL’s official X account, Silva expressed an curiosity to be concerned, however his inclusion in any combat could be based mostly on approval from the athletic fee the place he fights.
That stated, because the GFL’s account identified, Silva’s recognition is clear, as is the sarcasm from MMA followers. The Axe Assassin was successful GFL’s poll that requested followers: “You might be in control of selecting your staff’s SECOND middleweight. Who do you select and why?
On the time of this publish, Silva 48% of the vote and the following closest fighter is former UFC fighter and up to date Karate Fight participant, Markus Perez.
At one level in his profession, Wanderlei Silva was arguably probably the most thrilling fighter within the sport. Silva’s all-action fashion produced traditional fights in opposition to Rampage Jackson, Brian Stann, Cung Le, Wealthy Franklin, Keith Jardine, Chuck Liddell, Hidehiko Yoshida, and extra.
Sadly, these fights occurred greater than a decade in the past—in some cases, greater than 20 years in the past. Silva’s time as a respectable fighter is probably going over.
The GFL’s roster is heavy on massive names from the UFC, Bellator, and Pleasure’s previous, but additionally sturdy on questions concerning the fighters’ potential to carry out at a excessive degree. Nobody is anticipating Silva, Anthony Pettis, Alexander Gustafsson, or Renan Barao to be nearly as good as they have been of their prime.
Nonetheless, the hope is that they’re nonetheless in a position to have aggressive and thrilling fights whereas leaving the cage or ring with their colleges intact. There’s nonetheless a lot we don’t know concerning the new league.
What we do know is the main make-up of the roster, the team-based format that may embrace a draft, and that the group guarantees a 50-50 income cut up with the fighters.
Whereas I’m not a fan of the staff or season-based format in fight sports activities, I’m enthusiastic about seeing how the groups are shaped, how the occasions will probably be offered, and if the fights seize the eye of the MMA neighborhood.
Hopefully, the GFL’s occasions will occupy a day of the week, like Friday, that isn’t at present owned by the UFC. Here’s a take a look at the roster listed on the promotion’s web site:
Heavyweight
- Alan Belcher
- Aleksandr Maslov
- Aleksei Oleinik
- Andrei Arlovski
- Fabrício Werdum
- Frank Mir
- Junior dos Santos
- Oli Thompson
- Greg Hardy
- Guto Inocente
- Philipe Lins
- Robelis Despaigne
- Roggers Souza
- Stuart Austin
- Tanner Boser
Mild Heavyweight
- Alexander Gustafsson
- Cleiton Silva
- Emiliano Sordi
- Ilir Latifi
- Rafael Carvalho
- Thiago Santos
- Da Woon Jung
Middleweight
- Gegard Mousasi
- Chauncey Foxworth
- Glaico Franca
- Héctor Lombard
- Jared Revel
- Jozef Wittner
- Kyle Daukaus
- Mariusz Ksiazkiewicz
- Luke Rockhold
- Markus Perez
- Phil Hawes
- Wanderlei Silva
Welterweight
- Abubakar Nurmagomedov
- Austin Tweedy
- Adilet Nurmatov
- Benson Henderson
- Danny Mitchell
- Dominick Meriweather
- Francisco Trinaldo
- Joao Zeferino
- Jozef Wittner
- Jordan Mein
- Julio Spadaccini
- Michael Irizarry
- Rousimar Palhares
- Ruan Machado
- Tyron Woodley
Light-weight
- Amirkhon Alikhuzhaev
- Aaron McKenzie
- Anthony Pettis
- Alex Oliveira
- Ayton De Paepe
- Charles Rosa
- Feruz Usmonov
- Gabriel Souza Galindo
- Ayinda Nah Octave Tiphaine
- Christian Giagos
- Benson Henderson
- Ayinda Octave
- Jefferson Pontes
- Jeremy Stephens
- John Makdessi
- Kevin Lee
- Killys Mota
- Lucas Martins
- Mohamed Tarek Mohey
- Oscar Ownsworth
- Raimundo Batista
- Sidney Outlaw
- Stephen Beaumont
- Will Brooks
- William Lima
- Yan Cabral
Featherweight
- Alexsandro Lopes Cangaty
- Bubba Jenkins
- Andre Harrison
- Claudeci Brito
- Deberson Batista
- Lance Palmer
- Marcel Adur
- Marcelo Dias
- Marlon Moraes
- Mohammad Abzakh
- Patrizio de Souza Janurario
- Renan Oliveira
- Renan Barão
Bantamweight
- Cameron Else
- Denis Palancica
- Diego Teixeira
- Jimmie Rivera
- Marciano Ferreira
- Omar Arteaga
- Marcus Paulo Amaral
Girls’s Bantamweight
- Alexa Conners
- Queila Braga
- Pannie Kianzad
- Tonya Evinger
Girls’s Flyweight
- Chiara Penco
- Kalindra Faria
- Miao Ding
Girls’s Strawweight
- Bi Nguyen
- Viviane Pereira
- Silvania Monteiro
- Hannah Goldy
- Jessica Penne
- Kayla Hracho
Keep tuned as extra data on the GFL turns into obtainable.
