tj hook: you're right about how the fight would be bad for ufc in the longterm. You're also right about how Silva would probably win, because I highly doubt that GSP can outstrike Silva. Even though GSP, pound for pound, has better ground game than Silva (there's not even an argument about that....GSP is a fucking monster on the ground), Silva is, I think, a little bit faster with his hands. That means that GSP will have to take down and outwrestle a guy who is naturally way heavier than him. Correct me if I'm wrong, but GSP is a walkaround 170, whereas Silva is a walkaround 205. Even if they both gain/lose the pounds, there's no way he can outmuscle Silva. Not when Silva could outmuscle Hendo. I don't care how much better a ground game GSP has (it's not that much better anyways), it's just no happening. That said, for some reason, I really wanna see it happen. That's all you really had to read into my comment up there.
Machida is a monster, and I love the fact that he's come out of a karate background. I also love that about GSP. Another thing: I doubt that Silva is the best Muay-Thai practitioner in the world. He's the best in UFC, and probably in organized MMA, but maybe not in the world.
About the Muhammad Ali thing: There's no doubt who's the greater man: Ali.
But if they ever fought in each of their primes, Silva would break him. Why? Silva has a sick ground game. Ali had none. Silva can kick. Ali couldn't. Silva has those wicked muaythai elbows...ali didn't (see that reverse elbow Silva did a while back...it may have been on hendo)
Ok, NOW you are talking sensibly. You are absolutely right. GSP does have the best ground game in the UFC. He is not even a wrestler, and made Matt Hughes, and other division I champs look like total rookies. Who else has taken BJ Penn down with such ease? No one. Statistics show that BJ Penn has one of the best take down defences in the UFC. GSP shitted on that statistic and didn't care. However, as much as I love GSP (he is my favorite fighter), I do not want to see him lose against Silva, which would happen-- and I think it would be fairly easy too. GSP deserves his title of dominace as he is exhibiting in the welterweight weight class, and why would we tarnish that by making him move up? Same thing happned to Penn; He moved up, got destroyed, and it hurt his reputation badly. No one likes watching their hero dismantled.
As for Machida, I would bet my house that he would win against Silva. Name me one flaw in Machida's game. He is the most elusive fighter in UFC history. Silva has some flaws being that while he is a BJJ black belt, he has been known to have average GnP defence, which correct me if I am wrong, Travis Lutter (can't remember) exposed, as well as Hendo a little bit. His greco-roman backround definitely helps, and I bet that knockout on Bisping is fresh in everyone's mind.
As for Silva's walking around weight, no he is not a 205'er, he just put on that weight (if you notice he was not ripped as usual), because simply, no one is touching him at the middleweight level, or so he felt.
As for Gustav--Come on pal, I thought you were worth debating. Moby never said "Just like", he said like, and if you notice, there are gifs (moving graphics--o0o0o imagine that?) of Silva knocking someone out, not serving soup in a shelter home. Maybe for Christmas I'll buy a new brain. Except not for me--I like to give to the needy. I'll FedEx it to you.