Larger foe doesn’t faze Anderson Silva

Five weeks ago, Anderson Silva was enjoying a working vacation in Hawaii, while his manager was home in Redondo Beach, Calif., barbecuing with friends.

That's when Ed Soares received the text message.

Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White was requesting that Silva take a fight out of his weight class to help the organization put together a card for basic cable TV to go head to head with the first pay-per-view event of the new Affliction promotion.

While some in Silva's camp were hesitant, the UFC middleweight champion from Brazil quickly agreed. So tonight, Silva will headline a card at The Pearl in the Palms in a light heavyweight bout against James Irvin.

"I'm an employee, and I also feel like a member of the UFC family," Silva said through Soares, who translated at an open workout Thursday. "It was a personal favor to Dana White to take the fight at this weight."

Silva is considered one of the best, if not the best, pound-for-pound mixed martial artists in the world. His belt will not be on the line tonight, but he will face a stiff challenge in Irvin, a big, strong fighter who knocked out Houston Alexander in eight seconds in his last fight.

Silva is not fazed when reminded that he's taking a fight against a larger opponent with knockout power at a weight he has not competed at -- and on short notice.

"All of the variables are valid facts," Silva said. "But I'm here to do my job."

The oddsmakers don't seem bothered by any of the factors, either. Silva is a minus-700 favorite over Irvin.

The odds mostly are based on Silva's success in the UFC. In six fights since joining the organization, he has looked unbeatable. He has won all six by stoppage, with none of them reaching the third round.

"It's awesome in the sport right now to have a guy that's the clear-cut pound-for-pound best fighter," Irvin said. "I'm honored to have the opportunity to fight him."

Silva won't be the only fighter trying out a new weight class.

Brandon Vera will debut tonight at light heavyweight after competing in the heavyweight division. After winning the first eight fights of his career as one of the sport's smaller heavyweights, Vera has lost consecutive fights, prompting the drop in weight class.

Also, Hermes Franca returns from a yearlong steroid suspension to fight Frankie Edgar. Franca tested positive after losing a lightweight title fight to Sean Sherk in Sacramento, Calif., last July.

Franca's reaction to being busted was more remorseful than most athletes, however.

He admitted to the indiscretion, saying he was injured and it was the only way he could get ready to fight. Franca said he gets paid only when he fights and he needed the money to support his family, and he regretted his decision to cheat very much.

His honesty earned him the respect of many MMA fans.

"I know a lot of guys lie and don't tell the truth" in that situation, Franca said. "But I think I've got more fans after (going through) all this.

"Everybody has said they have respect for how I dealt with it. Now it's in the past."

By contrast, Sherk also tested positive after that fight and went through six months of appeals before having his suspension reduced. He still denies any wrongdoing.

The first bout on the 11-fight card will begin at 3:55 p.m., with the main card beginning live on Spike (Cable 29) at 6.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.