Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva is arguably the greatest fighter in the history of MMA.
He has defended the middleweight championship ten times, holds many UFC records and has been in some of the most high profile fights of all time.
Few have fought the level of competition The Spider has, while producing some of the most remarkable finishes ever seen across two separate weight divisions.
At UFC 162 back in July 2013, heading into his title defence with Chris Weidman, Anderson Silva was riding a 16 fight win streak and looking to stay undefeated in the UFC. Silva fought well during the early goings, though constantly showboated with his hands by his side. Weidman wound up catching Silva with a left hook, a few punches on the ground, and left the new middleweight champion. It marked one of the sport’s most shocking moments and began a series of events that changed his career.
First it was the rematch with Chris Weidman at UFC 168, where Silva horrifically broke his leg started a full-year process of rehabilitation.
After only a year away, Silva returned at UFC 183 against Nick Diaz and won a unanimous decision in a lacklustre affair. The performance was more impressive considering the gruesome nature of his broken leg only a year prior, and Silva’s career looked back on track.
That momentum came to a screeching halt when he failed a drug test, had the win overturned to a no-contest and was given a one year suspension.
Silva served his time and returned to face top contender Michael Bisping. The former champ fought well in stages though had clearly lost a step, and was on the wrong side of a unanimous decision. Then most recently following Jon Jones’ failed drug test and removal from UFC 200, he saved the day by jumping up a weight class to fight light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier. Despite not being in fighting shape Silva gave a good account of himself but was soundly beaten by Cormier.
With the 41-year-old competing in a division of monsters like Chris Weidman, Luke Rockhold, Jacare Souza, Yoel Romero and Michael Bisping, and not having an official win since October of 2012, the chips are stacked against him regaining the title. Silva’s record in his last five fights now sits at four losses and one no contest.
The interesting thing for him is that these last five fights do all have somewhat of an asterisk next to them, and a case can be made by his admirers to possibly explain his current sixth place ranking in the 185 pound division.
Both of the Chris Weidman fights ended in strange fashion with a shock knockout due to show boating and a broken leg in the rematch. Silva did also defeat Nick Diaz very convincingly before having the win overturned with the doping suspension.
In addition to that, many believe he beat now champion Michael Bisping earlier this year until Bisping was awarded a home decision. Then there’s Silva being the company man that he is, and stepping up to fight Daniel Cormier on just days notice, in a fight nobody seriously thought he would win.
The argument is there that Anderson Silva is still one of the best fighters in the world, and he is, but he has never looked the same after being knocked out by Chris Weidman.
Silva has plenty of fights left on his current deal with the UFC, and with his marketable name and impressive wins under his belt, could we see The Spider produce a Robbie Lawler like redemption story back to the title?
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