Until now I think everybody Dana White has let go from the UFC’s clinch was justified. With Dan Henderson out of the UFC and its middleweight dilemma of trying to find or make a legitimate challenger for Anderson, especially since Belfort had to pull out from his fight with Silva, I have to say he screwed up.

At this point the UFC has some ground game fighters that pose a bit of a challenge for Anderson. Damien Maia is at the top this list but I just don’t think he can finish him. I’m a firm believer that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one of the most important styles to have in a fighting game but you need a very well rounded game if you think your going to have a prayer against Anderson Silva.

When Royce Gracie was walking through people in the early days of the UFC there was no such thing as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu defense unless you actually new BJJ. My BJJ coach says that every MMA fighter loses a belt the instant he steps into the cage and if you have a weak striking game make it two belts.

Let’s not forget that Anderson is a BJJ black Belt himself and most likely better than ever. He has made fools of anybody he has faced with a one-dimensional game, case and point Thales Leites. I could see if Damien was a big strong middleweight like Henderson but he’s far from that. In fact he is a small middleweight.

Dan Henderson is the only man since Travis Lutter that has shown any offense against Anderson and he won a round by man handling him to the ground and trying to put a beating on him. He said after the fight that he thought he would be able to take him down at will but was unable after the first round.

There are others such as Nate Marquarte that could have a chance against the champion but as we saw against Chael Sonnen he still has some chinks in his armor. I do think at some point soon Nate will have a run at the title and most likely against Silva or Belfort.

Don’t get me wrong here, I will be rooting for Damien the whole way with my heart but my fighting sense knows that a win against Anderson is highly un-likely. The only fighter available at this point and time that has a chance against Anderson Silva is Dan Henderson. He has one punch knock out power and we all know anyone can get caught. He also has elite level wrestling and in the past this has proven to be Anderson’s nemesis.

Unfortunately a fight between Henderson and Silva in not going to happen in the next two years so we might as well watch and enjoy what the best fighter in the world is capable of.