UFC 134: Looking back at Anderson Silva's toughest tests in the UFC
Posted on August 21, 2011, 07:24 AM by Anton GurevichNext weekend, Anderson "The Spider" Silva will return to his homeland, headlining a stacked top-to-bottom UFC 134 fight card in Rio de Janeiro. This time, Andrson Silva will be facing the Japanese veteran Yushin "Thunder" Okami. The fight against Okami will be Anderson Silva's 14th inside the Octagon, and his 9th UFC Middleweight title defense. Silva is widely considered as the best Pound for Pound fighter on the planet, an unbeatable warrior who destroyed (or at least ridiculed) everyone he faced inside the Octagon.
There's not many of them, but there are some fighters who came closer than others to beating "The Spider". From Patrick Cote to Chael Sonnen, we take a look back at Anderson Silva's toughest tests inside the UFC Octagon. Will Yushin Okami add his name to the list? We'll have to wait for August 27th to find out.
Patrick “The Predator” Cote
When: UFC 90
At UFC 90 MMA fans around the world were introduced to “The Dancing Spider” version of Anderson Silva. Cote was not impressed by Silva’s disco moves, and kept coming forward looking to trade with a somewhat bored UFC Middleweight Champion. The French-Canadian was not afraid to absorb Anderson Silva’s power, responded with strikes of his own, and was the first fighter to drag the “unbeatable” Champ into Round 3. This fight had a very unfortunate ending for Patrick Cote (injured knee in Round 3), but I truly believe that “The Predator” would’ve been able to give Anderson Silva something to fight for.
Travis “Serial Killer” Lutter
When: UFC 67
UFC Middleweight title encounter between Anderson Silva and Travis Lutter was changed into a non-title bout after the “Serial Killer” missed weight by two pounds. Despite being visibly exhausted from his attempts to make weight, Lutter scored two important takedowns against Silva, and later found himself raining bombs from full mount towards the end of Round 1. However, Lutter’s Cinderella Story quickly ended in Round 2 with Anderson Silva locking a vicious triangle choke that forced the challenger to tap out (via Elbows) without throwing a single significant strike in that round.
Dan “Hendo” Henderson
When: UFC 82
Prior to Chael Sonnen’s quest for glory, Dan Henderson was widely considered as Anderson Silva’s toughest test inside the Octagon. “All-American” was able to neutralize Silva’s skills in Round 1, and to perfectly execute his gameplan with two important takedowns. Dan Henderson ground and pounded Anderson Silva with 41 to 9 strikes, but just like Travis Lutter at UFC 67, he was unable to finish “The Spider”. Hendo paid the price in Round 2, losing the fight via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:52 minutes mark.
Chael Sonnen
When: UFC 117
Chael Sonnen promised and delivered a fight of epic proportions at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. Uncle Chael combined the courage of Patrick Cote and the gameplan of Dan Henderson to pummel Anderson Silva throughout 4-and-half rounds. Sonnen outstruck the Champion 89 to 29, in what could’ve been one of the most amazing victories in the history of Mixed Martial Arts. But that’s the rule of thumb (or dumb) against Anderson Silva – you finish, or get finished. “The Spider” submitted Sonnen with an Armbar/Triangle combination, to extend his UFC winning streak to 12, and title defenses to 7. Chael Sonnen will corner Yushin Okami, with hopes on providing "Thunder" the necessary wisdom to defeat his arch nemesis.
Comments
your right....... your 2drunk
i agree! he avoid the rematch with Hendo , even ducked Nate before he lost to Sonnen , made that stupid excuse about some sore ribs when Sonnen kick his ass, took 2 fights at 205 with cans, and was scare shit less to fight Belfort , he even grease himself during the intro but no one said a word, now hes getting Okami a good fighter but not a top one.
his legacy is getting build on twisted facts that nuthuggers believe
and the pound for pound stupidity .. yeah i also believe Batman can beat superman since he kick the joker's ass. nuff said.
So what is your reasoning for why he beat Nate and Hendo in the first place? You still have Hendo above him so what for? Seems everyone just happens to have a bad night right on the specific night they have to fight AS. You can talk all you want but the facts that have been laid have been laid and that includes these guys losing to AS.
You have Dan Henderson at 5 and As at 10.Nuff said.
Many of us say we don't care about what people think too. I actually don't care if he cares about what I think, I just enjoy his best in the world skills. Why didn't GSP ever leave his division? Why does GSP only play to a fighters weaknesses and AS defeats guys in their strengths in many cases? Why does GSP shy away when confronted with an option to fight AS? Why does GSP just sit there looking stupid when he could finish a fighter thats barely alive? AS has done weird and rediculous stuff but it all seems to be at his own leisure while others can't do anything about it. GSP does it in safety and never finishes top opponents anymore.
I'm a little surprised you didn't mention that Chael was the first to visibly rock Anderson. When this happened, I nearly sh** myself !!!
he didn't rock anderson?
people who don't like anderson always call the middleweight division 'shallow' what makes a division where nobody but the champ can beat jon fitch any better? or a division where brock can be considered the best in the world? and isn't a featherweight the lightweight champ? i can tell you're a gsp fan already.
@2DRUNK
I have a question for you 2drunk. Since when have you known the UFC to allow ANY fighter to choose ALL his opponents ? better yet when has any fighter dictated to the UFC who he fights ESPECIALLY a champion . If you know please tell me who and when and the proof you have to back it up. Granted the MW division(185 pounds) is one of the weakest in all of MMA not just the UFC, but yet Silva has added prestige to a UFC title that didn't have any before his reign. If you made an INTELLIGENT argument suggesting that WW or LHW are stronger divisions so the champs at those weights classes deserve more credit I could see your point but instead you display PURE IGNORANCE.
His 2 real losses were amoung his first fights and they are hardly relevent now. If he did fight them and win what would you say I wonder(they were washed up and Anderson cheated). I am sure if they were still really relevant they would be looking to take his glory in the UFC but I haven't seen them anywhere have you?
And you would be a fool to think AS is a lucky guy all this time. GSP barley cuts it as fighter and excells at playing his game by almost always avoiding the strengt5hs of his opponents and yet you try and cut Silva some words by pointing out he didn't want to be in Maias guard. Don't be hypocritical.
I was with you on this all the way to here... but to say GSP barely cuts it as a fighter is ridiculous. If you want to win it is a good idea to avoid your opponents strengths...yes? He is an excellent Champion even if I am disappointed he hasn't finished anyone in a while. Now, lets get back to trashing 2drunk's posts :)
GSP is a fine champion and an amazing athlete but I just find it hard to call him an out and out fighter when he has the most destroyed opponents and still won't just get in there and finish them. So me saying he bareley cuts it means he is just in there as a fighter because he has done it before but he is getting far more into safety than fighting now. Many people will never be able to reach the greatness GSP has attained but many are more fighter like than him. I am not pointing out that he is not finishing his opponents altogether but that even when it is as clear as night and day that his opponent is done he won't commit to a finish where the other fighters would.
Picked by who ED Soares ? NO!! chances are the UFC picked Forrest coz he has no issues go toe to toe with Silva, but once again you are suggesting that Silva is his own match maker. By the way since when was Forrest Griffin an EASY fight ? I KNOW after the Silva destroyed him. Damn I feel sorry for Forrest having Rampage, Shogun and Franklin doesn't seem to count for much these days.
U probably think Fedor was the best! U want to talk about dodging top competition? Thats the man who dodges! Anderson silva is the best! Period.
Anyone ever think the MW div is shallow cause they are running from Silva?
@ 2drunk2crack1off:
"Fought in a shallow division for years and dodged opponents."
You must be either brand new to MMA or you just haven't been watching Anderson Silva's fights? if you haven't, maybe you should one day. I normally wouldn't reply to such idiotic statement, but,sir, you have made it extremely hard for me not to. My only question is, when has any champion in the UFC have the right to dodge any of their opponents? hmmm NEVER.
Whether you like him or not, Anderson Silva is and will always be the greatest fighter of all time. Go get yourself another drink, son.
he speaks the truth.
otherwise how can you explain all those weak votes on his comment.
Another one who doesn't even rank AS in the top 10. I can explain your first sharp just by pointing at you.
is it just me, or does that pic of travis lutter in the mix of those 4 fighters look like a skinny mark coleman ???
Is it just me or does Hendo look like an overweight inbred redneck in that photo?
PS: Yes, I realize he could beat my ass every day of the week and twice on Sundays.
yea, he sorta does, but he is missing the tv remote in one hand and a can of milwaukee's best in the other
Man, 2drunk hit this topic with a vengeance, out to prove that he can be the P4P champ of getting more weaks "on fire" than anyone else on lowkick.