Silva vs. Okami at UFC Rio, but Manager Still Believes GSP Super Fight Will Happen

When the news broke on Wednesday that the UFC had booked Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami for UFC Rioin August, everyone wondered what happened to the potential super fight between Silva and current UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.

All of the roads seemed to be leading to a blockbuster match-up between the two fighters that occupy just about everyone’s slots as the No. 1 and No. 2 fighters among the pound-for-pound best in the sport.

After Silva’s first-round knockout of Vitor Belfort in February, all eyes were focused on St-Pierre’s title defense against Jake Shields on April 30 at UFC 129. Now Silva will defend his belt against Okami in August, but that doesn’t mean a Silva/GSP super fight couldn’t happen down the road.

According to Silva’s manager, Ed Soares, the Brazilian champion wanted to stay active and defend his belt, and was concerned the timeline for a St-Pierre fight may have put him on the sidelines for too long.

“I don’t think it’s anything about switching gears,” Soares answered when asked why the UFC opted to go with Silva vs. Okami instead of Silva vs. GSP. “Whether GSP wins or loses or whatever happens to GSP, the show must go on. There’s what seven champions? They’ve got to stay busy. That’s the first thing.

“The second thing is GSP has mentioned that he’s going to have to put weight on. So even if he fought the end of April, it’s not like he’s going to be able to fight in at least six months, seven months; he’s going to have to put weight on.”

Understanding that Silva’s end goal for his career is to retire as an undefeated UFC fighter, with more title defenses than anyone could possibly catch up to, a bout with St-Pierre still fits the bill as one of the biggest fights ever.

St-Pierre has waffled a bit as far as his desire to go up to 185 pounds, the Canadian doesn’t even want to entertain the idea until he faces Jake Shields at UFC 129.

For now, he won’t have to field as many questions about facing Anderson Silva, but that doesn’t mean the fight won’t happen down the road.

“I think that’s still a potential,” Soares told MMAWeekly Radio about the super fight. “That’s still a huge potential.”

U.S. Government Seizes Several Poker Sites That Were Big On MMA Sponsorships

A major player in the world of MMA sponsorships may have just come to an end.

Federal indictments were handed down on Friday naming three major poker sites: PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker, and the companies’ executives.

Online gambling is illegal in the U.S., but several sites have found ways to work around the laws, but the Federal government cracked down on the sites on Friday. According to a report from the L.A. Times, the affiliates involved with the sites were charged with bank fraud and money laundering with several arrests already made.

“These defendants concocted an elaborate criminal fraud scheme, alternately tricking some U.S. banks and effectively bribing others to assure the continued flow of billions in illegal gambling profits,” Preet Bharara, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, said in a statement.

The poker sites have been shut down by the government, and while some people may still be able to access them currently, it will only be a matter of time before they are shut down completely and inaccessible.

In the MMA world, poker sites had become a major sponsor of fighters and promotions over the past several years. One manager speaking to MMAWeekly.com on Friday stated that many of the poker sponsorships rivaled the money of what any two or three other sponsors could offer, and the poker sites considered it ‘chump change.’

Full Tilt Poker, who had been a major sponsor of many fighters in the UFC, have been banned from sponsorships in the organization for the past two years. While speculation ran wild that the UFC kicked Full Tilt Poker out for being a competitor to Zuffa owners Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta’s own casinos, sources have indicated it was for a different reason altogether.

Independent sources confirmed to MMAWeekly.com that one of the major reasons the UFC banned the online poker site had more to do with the company wanting to avoid dealing with a sponsor who was allegedly doing illegal business. The Federal government has long sniffed around the online poker industry. UFC officials read the writing on the wall, choosing not to do business with companies in that industry.

Prosecutors in the case are looking to shut down the sites permanently, send their executives to jail, and recover over $3 billion dollars from the companies.

Bellator Fighting Championships had also banned the online poker sites from sponsorships, but companies like Full Tilt Poker remained in place as sponsors of fighters in Strikeforce.

It’s unknown at this time how fast the money currently owed to some fighters might get pulled or paid out. The company websites had all been shut down and seized as of Friday night, but it’s unclear what business will be going forward in regards to sponsorships for fighters.

Full UFC Primetime: St-Pierre vs. Shields Episode One Video

The premier episode of UFC Primetime: St-Pierre vs. Shields debuted on Wednesday night on Spike TV.

UFC Primetime takes a behind-the-scenes look at UFC 129 main eventers Georges St-Pierre and Jake Shields as the days dwindle down to their showdown before 55,000 fans on April 30 in Toronto.

Watch the full UFC Primetime episode one video below…