Arguably the greatest mixed martial arts fighter in history, Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva (34-6) returned from his horrific leg injury to face Nick Diaz (26-10, 1NC) in the main event of UFC 183 in Las Vegas.
Anderson Silva is known for his antic inside the cage, which include dropping his hands, taunting his opponents and goading them into coming forward, where he makes them with vicious and precise counter shots.
Nick Diaz goads his opponents in different ways, via trash talk before and during fights, slapping his opponents and mouthing off to them as he throws punches to them.
Diaz makes you angry, he puts you off your game, and then he makes you pay for it.
The lead up to UFC 183 was very different however, as both Silva and Diaz were respectful. Neither of the fighters had anything to say to one another, and both men allowed the highly anticipated fight to sell itself.
That is until, the octagon door closed.
Diaz took in ring taunting to another level, right from the get go he was taunting Silva, fighting with his hands down, turning around and giving his back, and at one point he even dropped down to the floor.
The fight opened up more after the second round, Diaz had good success with the leg kicks but the Spider proved how accurate he could be, with multiple straight rights and jabs that busted up Diaz and forced him to receive multiple stitches.
It was an entertaining bout that went the distance, Anderson Silva won a unanimous decision victory that saw him break down into tears in his emotional return to fighting.
Diaz said in the post-fight interview he believed that he won every one and that the judges “don’t like his attitude” in the cage.
Both Silva and Diaz have not given definitive answers on whether or not they would ever fight again, however Silva was promised a shot that the middleweight belt with a victory over Diaz.
The full results of the event
Middleweight: Anderson Silva def. Nick Diaz via Unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
Catchweight (180 lbs): Tyron Woodley def. Kelvin Gastelum via Split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Lightweight: Al Iaquinta def. Joe Lauzon via TKO (Punches) 3:34 R2
Middleweight: Thales Leites def. Tim Boetsch via Technical submission (Arm-triangle choke) 3:45 R2
Welterweight: Thiago Alves def. Jordan Mein via TKO (Body kick andamp; punches) 0:39 R2
Women’s Bantamweight: Miesha Tate def. Sara McMann via Majority decision (29-28, 29-27, 28-28)
Middleweight: Derek Brunson def. Ed Herman via TKO (Punches) 0:36 R1
Catchweight (130lbs): John Lineker def. Ian McCall via Unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Middleweight: Rafael Natal def. Tom Watson via Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Middleweight: Ildemar Alcantara def. Richardson Moreira via Split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Middleweight: Thiago Santos def. Andy Enz via TKO (Punches) 1:56 R1
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