Anderson “The Spider” Silva is one of the most dominant fighters in the world today. Dana White, President of the Ultimate Fighting Championships® has said that “Silva is pound-for-pound the best middleweight there is.” With a record of 26 wins and 4 losses, it’s easy to admire the guy.
A FIGHTER OF (SILVA’S) CALIBER MUST SHOW HIS HUMANITY, AS WELL AS HIS SKILL
What’s even more awe-inspiring is that he lost, in a unanimous decision, in his very first professional mma fight (2000) to Luiz Azeredo. Three years later he was submitted with a triangle choke in Pride 26 by Daiju Takase. He was demolishing his opponent Ryo Chonan in another Pride Fighting match until, on a desperation attempt, Ryo shocked the martial arts world with a perfect “flying” scissor takedown into a heel hook. Finally, Silva’s final blemish to his record came on a disqualification for an illegal kick in Rumble On The Rock 8 (2006)- which, (in many a fan’s mind) felt and probably should have been legal.
Silva has from that point on, fought and won 12 straight fights against world-class fighters such as: Rich Franklin (twice), Dan Henderson, Nate Marquardt, Forrest Griffen, and just recently, Demian Maia.
The Latest Fight: UFC 112® versus Demian Maia
UFC® Pay-Per-View on April 10th, 2010 was met by many with great expectation. You have Matt Hughes fighting Renzo Gracie, B.J. Penn fighting Frankie Edger and last but not least, Anderson Silva vs. Jiu-Jitsu expert Demian Maia. In Portuguese (Silva’s native tongue), Silva mentioned to his trainers that he had “something up his sleeve” – what exactly, we don’t know.
From the start of the fight Silva was in control, throwing jabs and leg kicks – and like his last several fights, looking like someone who knew he was in complete control. Fans and commentators were completely snowed and drawn into the the picture of dominance that Silva was painting – elaborately all over Maia’s face.
What seemed to turn the fight sour was Silva’s continuous in-fight boasting, chest-pounding, and lunges (which seemed to be out of boredom). I must admit I was happy to see him bring some capoiera-stylings to the fight, but for someone looking to remain in fan favor, he wasn’t giving them the finale that was owed them. On the one hand, a fighter that can’t match the speed of his opponent (Maia) should “hang it out there” and let loose with whatever’s left in the tank. On the other, a fighter of Silva’s caliber must show his humanity, as well as his skill.
It is clear that the utter bulldozing of such big names like: Griffen, Franklin, Marquardt, Leben and others have given him (to put it mildly) a God complex. In my eyes (only personally) his loses have been as a result of those two submissions; one of those being the closest thing to “A miracle” that I’ve seen in MMA (see, Chonan fight). This last fight, although one may understand why Silva is beginning to flaunt his cloak of invincibility and beat his chest for a tougher challenger, the one thing that he must absolutely… without a doubt prove… is that he can finish him.
Much Respect.
Although I was entertained, I sure hope Silva learned his lesson.
Kudos to Maia for not sticking to his game plan, however “human” and futile it was.
Fight fans, give us your thoughts.
-Michael Joyce
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What you’ll undoubtedly find as we move towards greater heights here at the Combative Corner, is that we’ll mention (often with great zeal) persons or things that inspire us.
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