Here We Go Again: Antonio Silva Calls Out Fedor Emelianenko and Alistair Overeem

It seems like everyone is a critic nowadays. Both Fedor Emelianenko and Alistair Overeem have been in the news lately, with Emelianenko finally answering the challenge Overeem has been throwing down for quite some time, only for Overeem to back off, call out Fedor on the timing of his answer, and say that his next fight will be in K-1. For those that don’t know, Overeem has been challenging Fedor for some time now, saying that “The Last Emperor” is afraid to fight the current Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion. Emelianenko and his management, M-1 Global, recently responded to the challenge, saying that they wanted to make the fight happen by the end of 2010, most likely in a December New Year’s Eve mega-fight in Japan or Russia. After Overeem declined the open invitation to face Fedor, another Strikeforce Heavyweight has recently come out against both men. I guess having one “Bigfoot” in his mouth wasn’t enough (read more about that here), since Antonio Silva recently criticized both Fedor Emelianenko and Alistair Overeem for their inability to fight each other.

In a statement released through Facebook of all places, Antonio Silva, the only man to ever hold the Elite XC Heavyweight Championship, had this to say: “I come from Paraiba, in Brazil, where we don’t back down from things! I’ll fight whoever they put in front of me; you will never see me picking and choosing opponents. It’s sad when the heavyweight champion starts whining that he will only fight this guy or that. What kind of a professional is this guy? He is the champ, isn’t he? Why be afraid to fight me? And Fedor, one of the biggest legends in the sport. Is this how he got to be a legend, by declining fights?”

“I never disrespect any opponent, no matter what his record is or what the public thinks about him. To me, he merits respect just for stepping up there and facing off, but these guys are disappointing me. They are demonstrating that they are not deserving of my respect.”

“We are fighters, supposed to be some of the best in the world, and our job is to get up there, perform, and put on a good fight for the fans. I am ready to do this, just tell me who is next and I will be there. I am not a woman who wants to be involved in soap operas, looking forward to the next episode.”

“I think that STRIKEFORCE needs to put an end to this. Give me whoever and I will fight him, and, win or lose, people will know I came to fight that day and put my heart into it. To me, this is the only way.”

Strong words from a big man, but do they have any substance? I think Antonio Silva would fight Fedor or Alistair on a day’s notice, I’ll give him that. He’s got a lot of guts and heart…but he’s also digging his own grave. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Alistair Overeem will happen one day, it’s just a matter of timing. There is such a thing as wanting to be adequately prepared for your opponent, especially when you’re fighting the best fighters.

And again, I have to bring up the obvious: who does Silva think he is to say things like this? He’s only just begun to become accepted as a legitimate Heavyweight and not a freak attraction. Did Antonio Silva ever really beat anyone of note before he beat Andrei Arlovski, which I can admit was a very good performance? Antonio Silva isn’t throwing stones in a glass house…he’s got an Uzi on rapid fire and he’s spraying like his life depended on it. Silva hasn’t gotten enough wins to be taken seriously as a threat to either Fedor or Alistair, and if he keeps calling them out, sooner or later they’re going to answer and send his championship dreams crashing back down to reality.

But what do you think, fans and friends? Do you agree with Silva, and why or why not?