Gegard Mousasi challenges Anderson Silva

While it was reported recently that Anderson Silva would not be competing at UFC 198 in his hometown of Curitiba Brazil due to a lack of challengers, one man has stepped up to the plate.

MMA veteran Gegard Mousasi, fresh off his unanimous decision win over Thales Leites at UFC London, has challenged Silva to a fight at UFC 199 in June, or UFC 200 in July. Mousasi defeated Leites on the same card that Anderson Silva lost to Michael Bisping on last month.

Mousasi’s manager, Nima Safapour formally challenged Silva to a fight in a statement released to MMAFighting:

“All of the Brazilian media has been contacting us today about a potential Mousasi/Silva match-up in Brazil. It is an exciting idea as it will be a stadium show. However, the Curitiba card is right around the corner. Therefore, we need adequate time to put the camp together and prepare. We would gladly fight Anderson. However, a May date is too soon of a return. Had we known immediately after the London card then maybe. But that time has passed us, unfortunately. We will take the fight gladly. However, I think it would make more sense to have them fight either at UFC 199 in LA at the earliest, or alternatively, at UFC 200 in Vegas at the latest. Gegard wants to have the fastest turnaround possible while not compromising the organization and structure of his training camp. So the question should go back directly to Anderson on whether he accepts our challenge at either UFC 199 or UFC 200.”

Let's make history. Do U accept my challenge @SpiderAnderson ?
Let's make this happen @danawhite https://t.co/5g62WGneei#UFC199#UFC200

— Gegard Mousasi (@mousasi_mma) March 9, 2016

Let's fight a legend on a historic night..@ufc 200 @danawhite @SpiderAnderson #UFC199 #UFC200https://t.co/SBPJsViyJu

— Gegard Mousasi (@mousasi_mma) March 9, 2016

Do you want to see Silva and Mousasi scrap at either of these events? Sound off below PENN Nation!