Well, maybe my boy Anderson “The Spider” Silva is a sure bet.” - Me on Friday

Hell, I was even giving people 3-1, 4-1 odds to bet on Nate Marquardt against Silva last night. I found a few takers, but only for small wager amounts.

Anyway, everyone at the house where I watched the fight — save maybe three or four of us, and that’s out of something like 40 people — was pulling for Marquardt. I don’t know if it was because I watched the fight in Missouri and Silva’s Brazilian or what, but Marquardt was the overwhelming fan favorite. I have lived in both Los Angeles and Miami in the last couple years, and in those places the tables would probably be turned fan-wise, but I digress because I actually like rooting for the bad guy/underdog.

That’s the thing — The Spider is neither.

He’s a great guy, a family man and a humble champion. I dig his style; he’s a bad boy inside The Octagon, and a nice guy outside the cage. Just read this partial transcript of a recent interview from spidersilva.com, his official site:

Assuming that you first get past Marquardt, who are some of the fighters that you would like to challenge yourself against in the future?
I want to fight the best. Who ever that might be at the time.

The UFC has talked about a rematch between you and Rich Franklin if you defeat Marquardt, how do you feel about a possible rematch with
Franklin?
I would like to give him the opportunity he gave me to fight for the belt. I think he is a true gentlemen and a great fighter.

With Dan Henderson’s entry into the UFC, assuming that you are able to defeat Marquardt, how would you feel about fighting him in a UFC Champion vs. Pride Champion type of fight? Do you feel you match up well with Henderson?
Like I said earlier I want to fight the best.

How has being the UFC champion changed things in your life?
It has given me a lot more responsibility.

How do you feel that American fans have responded to you since joining the UFC?
I love the American Fans. They have treated me very well. I look forward to living here in the near future. I love America.”

That’s how a champion should roll. I love watching Silva fight; right now he’s my favorite UFC fighter by far. He’s just so versatile. He’s a master of Muay Thai and BJJ, who’s both a great striker and ground technician. The way I feel when I watch him fight/strike is similar to how chicks must feel when they watch the ballet. Silva’s just so damn graceful. Every time he steps into that ring you’re watching an artist create a masterpiece.

Silva’s latest masterpiece took only a round to complete. After this fight, it’s hard to argue that he’s not the hottest fighter out there right now. A couple of guys kept pointing out that he’s lost four fights last night, while refusing to include him with the greats. Guys like Coleman, Couture, Liddell, Jackson, Ortiz, Serra, Severn and Shamrock all have at least four losses. Royce Gracie has only two losses, but he has also both lost and drawn twice in his past six bouts (not to mention testing positive for steroids). Georges St. Pierre and The Muscle Shark are both great fighters, but neither is as awe-inspiring as The Spider. It’s like Kenny Florian said about himself, Silva “finishes fights.” I dig that.

I expect Silva to hold onto his title for a long, long time. His only loss in the past two-and-a-half years was a disqualification for knocking a guy out with an illegal upkick, and he won his seven other fights. Honestly, I think The Spider is the best pound-for-pound MMA fighter in the world. Who’s been more dominant of late? Who’s more versatile? If you can find an answer to those questions, then you’re one helluva spin doctor. So bring on Dan Henderson and Rich Franklin. They’ll both get dismantled, further proving The Spider’s greatness.

My thoughts on the rest of the card:

• Gotta love Kenny Florian. He does “finish fights.” I really hope he gets another shot at Sean Sherk and takes him out.
• Speaking of Sean Sherk, that guy’s a tool. Not only that, but he bored me to sleep and cost me five bucks. I was so mad when he slipped that Franca chokehold.
• That Herring-Nogueira fight wasn’t too shabby. If Herring would have just jumped on Nogueira when he was down and out, instead of wolfing down that double cheeseburger, he would have won the fight. Who cares — he deserves to lose for that bad Rodman impersonation he was trying to pull off.
• Evans-Ortiz. I was wrong and I was right. Ortiz was hungry, however,he just doesn’t have it any longer. He gave Evans everything he had and more (including illegal cage grabbing) and couldn’t take him out. Evans had him beat at the end of the fight, but the bell saved him. My problem with Evans is that he talked all that smack — and I agreed with most of that smack, at the time — and then came out tentative. I think Evans really fought not to lose. I understand that he doesn’t want any blemishes on his pretty little undefeated record, but don’t pull a Cory Spinks on UFC fans. When he asserted himself, Tito was screwed. All I’m saying is if they do have a re-match, then Evans better bring it. Another pussy-footed outing and I’m done with the guy. He already kept me from enjoying a free bottle of the good stuff.