Anderson Silva vs Chris Weidman -- Who will win and why?

This is a good question, can silvas experience, elusiveness and crisp striking prevail against a young dangerous hungry fighter with a strong wrestling background?

Let have a look at the strengths and weakness.

Silva strengths is his ability to pull a win out of the hat, experience of mma having started at age 9 and his beautiful accurate striking. He has high level BJJ also and many submissions.

His weaknesses could be his age- as it can catch up with a fighter at any stage, his inability to stop the takedown-think of how easily sonnen took him down repeatedly in both fights, and perhaps some level of complacency having won so many fights over time.

Weidman's strengths include highs level wrestling which is the base of mma these days and could see him in dominant position against the spider, accurate striking-see his elbow of Muniz on the feet, and high level jujitsu having tearing with matt Serra for many years. He is also young and hungry and that is a huge variable in his favour. Weaknesses could be inexperience as he may make an error due to his lack of comparative fights compared to the spider, and being overawed due to the occasion. His jujitsu whilst very good would not be on the same level as the spider.

How will it unfold? I can see weidman taking down the spider repeatedly, but that doesn't necessarily give him the win. The spider could submit weidman from his back at any stage over 5 rounds and can also out strike weidman on the feet, using his experience and ring craft honed from hundreds of hours sparring in the gym. I see the spider winning by tko in round 2 after enduring an initial onslaught by a young competitive weidman.

i think Weidman wins due to his wrestling and finishing ability, Silva is a very good striker but i think Weidman shocks the world and 4th of July weekend, Weidman is the champ.

Anderson Silva wins because he is one of the best strikers in MMA.

Silva via TKO (due to a huge, huge kick and then punches) late in the second. I don't think Spider's gonna play around...