In the lead up to UFC148 we will be taking a two part look at the UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and asking if he is the greatest MMA fighter in the sports short history.
Today I am suggesting he is and tomorrow The Roar’s MMA expert E. Spencer Kyte will be rebutting the idea.
It would be great if you guys could also let us know what you think of Silva in the comments below.
Here goes.
Anderson Silva is without a doubt the greatest fighter in MMA’s history. No other fighter in the history of the sport has so utterly dominated a division, no one has displayed a skill level as high as the man they call ‘the Spider’ and no other fighter has transcended from champion to legend in the way Silva has.
Quite simply, Anderson Silva turns a sport often known for bloody brawls into fine art.
A simple glance at his record gives you an idea of his dominance; 31 wins for only four losses, one of which is a dubious disqualification against Yushin Okami.
He has not been legitimately beaten since 2004, when Ryo Chonan pulled off a Flying Scissor Heel Hook, one of the flukiest submissions in MMA history.
In the UFC he is unbeaten, including a record 10 title defences; he is the most accurate striker ever in the UFC and has held the middleweight belt for a record 2089 days and counting.
The numbers alone put him at the pinnacle of the sport, but as is often the case they don’t paint the whole picture.
Anderson Silva’s ability to mesmerise and then strike with devastating force is unparalleled in MMA and is what truly elevates The Spider above everyone else.
His pure skills have made other look utterly second rate over and over again. As examples I submit his fights against Rich Franklin and Forrest Griffin.
At UFC 64 and 77 Silva so completely dominated Rich Franklin it was almost hard to watch.
At the time of their first fight, Franklin was a relatively dominate middleweight champion, with two title defences under his belt and an eight fight winning streak. Yet when Silva caught Franklin in the classic Muay-Thai clinch it seemed like he had wiped chloroform across Franklin’s face, he simply fell over. Franklin just could not touch The Spider.
Silva’s fight against Forrest Griffin at UFC 101 was even more stunning.
If you haven’t seen this fight you simply must find it now. It is like something out of the Matrix. Silva dropped his hands numerous times and dodged punches like Griffin was fighting in slow motion. He made the mere concept Forrest could hit him seem absurd.
He then knocked Griffin down twice before finally finishing him off with a simple jab. It was pure poetry.
Both those guys are former title holders and have proved they aren’t easy beats, yet when they stepped into the Octagon with The Spider they looked like rookies in their first fight.
He was simply fighting at a different level to anyone else.
Of course Silva’s highlight reel extends beyond those three fights; he holds knockout and submission wins over guys like Yushin Okami, Vitor Belfort, Dan Henderson, Travis Lutter and Nate Marquart.
He has proved himself a champion simply by beating everyone else in his division silly.
Sure, Silva has had some black marks against his career. His fights against Patrick Cote, Thales Leities and Demian Maia stunk of ego.
While I don’t wish to excuse his performance in them, they only reinforce how utterly dominate Silva is in the middleweight division. Silva was so much better he lost all interest in the fights and just started showboating.
These men were the best the UFC could put in front of Silva and they looked like backyard fighters, at best.
Finally though at UFC 117, against Chael Sonnen, Silva proved he has more than his silky smooth skills, he also possess the heart of a champion.
Having been beaten bloody for four rounds straight, it really did look like the Spider’s crown was slipping. But in the dying minutes he grasped victory from the jaws of defeat, locking in a triangle choke, forcing Sonnen to tap out.
It was later revealed he had been fighting with a broken rib against a guy on Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs).
Fedor Emelieneko, the only other fighter with a resume to match Silva’s, could not manage this when his legacy was slipping away against Fabricio Werdum and Antonio Silva.
That moment at UFC 117 was Steve Waugh scoring a century of the last ball at the SCG, it was Ian Thorpe chasing down Garry Hall Jnr at the Sydney Olympics, it was a moment when a champion has the world against him but manages to rise above and become a legend.
It was the moment Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva became a legend.
Follow Sam Brown on Twitter @Sir_Samuel
Sam Brown
Roar Guru
Yeah GSP used to go for the finish amd early on he got them, however since Matt Serra caught him he has become overly cautious to avoid a repeat. He is still a phenomonal talent but probably the best ww ever (and i'm Matt Hughes fan). As I said above his consecutive rounds won stat was crazy. Damien, I've never seen a live card but I catch the cards at a local pub and even there you can feel the buzz.
Damien
Roar Guru
No one here is suggesting that GSP is not the best WW. It's just he doesn't have the same aura of invincibility that Silva has. Silva should have lost the first fight to Sonnen but he pulled it out of the bag at the last moment. That's heart of a champion material right there. GSP shouldn't have lost to Matt Sera first up but he got TKO'd. Again GSP is definitely the best WW, probably best WW ever. But compared in the best MMA fighter stakes, Silva takes it easily IMO I actually got cageside seats (just behind the press core) way back in '06 for UFC 61 : Bitter Rivals. Arlovski v Sylvia. Best sporting experience by far I've be ever had. Unfortunately it's been rated up there in the worst UFC Main Event by some but the buzz in the arena was unbelievable. Just before the televised fights start they have this awesome highlight clip playing to the song 'Teenage Wasteland'. That just set the place off. I'm normally quite restrained but I was jumping out of my seat and the fights hadn't even started !!. (getting goosebumps just thinking bout it LOL) I've been to Bledisloe Cup Tests, Super Rugby matches, NRL matches and nothing comes even close to a UFC event. If anyone gets a chance to go I definitely recommend it.
E. Spencer Kyte
Roar Guru
Fivehole: it's coming.
Seriously, Who says Oi?
Guest
You people ought to look back at GSP's resume in the UFC. Were you not watching the UFC before 2010?
Sam Brown
Roar Guru
He is absolutely a dominate champion and easily top 10 of all time but he just lacks the killer instinct of Silva. His feat of winning something like 30 rounds in a row is freakish and shows how good he is at controlling a fight, however when looking for best ever finishing fights really does matter.
Damien
Roar Guru
It'll happen when he starts finishing fighters. He's definintely the best WW there is but not sure if he can lay a claim for best MMA fighter..
Fivehole
Guest
No love for GSP?
GrecoRoman
Roar Guru
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcwSRi43MRE
GrecoRoman
Roar Guru
Yes Damien - I'll be watching. He did get a victory over Wandy and also took him to a decision at a time when Wandy was considered invincible (though the fight was admittedly one-sided). Just based on his wrestling/grappling ability, he could step in the ring with anyone. Those 2 losses to Nog showed his weakness in the submission department I would have to admit though.
Damien
Roar Guru
To me Hendo is a bonafide Bad Ass. When he says that he fears no one I actually believe him. He did take on heavier fighters than himself but he lost to all of them. And most of them were 205 fighters anyway. Lil Nog, Rampage, Arona. Regardless Hendo is my all time favourite 'old man' of MMA. To be 42 years young and still holding your own with the worlds best is something special. Are you going to watch the Silva v Sonnen fight this weekend ?
Damien
Roar Guru
He went up twice already (Griffin & Irvine) If he gets past Sonnen then personally I reckon he's well and trully cleaned out the division. I reckon he should move to 205 and get a shot if Jones gets past Hendo. WOW !!
Damien
Roar Guru
Thats true. Although I must give Sapp credit in promoting his fights. I couldn't stop laughing at his antics for the Le Banner fight..'The Beast is HUNGRY !!'..LOL, but I understand the business of promoting fights so I can't be too upset at it.
Hanzo
Guest
Silva is my All-time favorite to watch. His evasiveness against Griffin ( as the author pointed out) was amazing to watch. His sharp striking also a joy to behold. For me it's very close between Fedor and Silva as the best ever but in terms of pure enjoyment up watch, definitely "The Spider". Also he will never go up a weight division in my opinion so a fight against Jon Jones is unlikely but I would love to see him meet GSP at a catch weight of maybe 180 or 175. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
GrecoRoman
Roar Guru
True Damien that Silva beat Henderson in their only match - and by a choke! Henderson back in the UFC has not been as dominant as he was in Pride. Hendo fought guys vastly heavier than himself - something Silva (who is MMA's best striker) never did.
GrecoRoman
Roar Guru
As a purist I wouldn't want Sapp on any of my dream fight cards. Unfortunately, the Japanese public loved fighters from the worked pro wrestling shows and the more weird and freaky match-ups, the more they tuned in. Sapp had a massive profile there and helped make the 'real' fighters a lot of money and gave the sport (for better or worse) a great deal of exposure.
Damien
Roar Guru
Apologies. I didn't read your last paragraph thoroughly enough. After Silva definitely a prime Henderson..
Sam Brown
Roar Guru
Wow, I have never seen that clip before, I had never thought about Silva's chin before but that video shows it is insane how much he can take. Well pointed out.
Damien
Roar Guru
I think the best way to show how good SIlva is at MMA is to compare him with a really bad fighter. And that fighter is...Bob 'The Tap' Sapp. You know how bad 'The Beast' is ? Now flip that scale and that's how awesome The Spider is..
Damien
Roar Guru
Thanks Sam, The Spider is the GOAT. He does things that you can only do in video games. He is the most skilled MMA fighter I've ever seen (Fedor included). That TKO over Belfort was just unbelievable. His evasive skills are really impressive but an overlooked trait that he has is his iron chin. Please excuse the music and the crap at the end of the clip but this shows how Silva is almost trance like when he gets tagged. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRdYec68MOk
Damien
Roar Guru
What makes you back Dan Henderson as your pick ? I rate him very highly (more than Couture) but not as the best..