Anderson "The Spider" Silva

The most commonly known  and most popular MMA league or mixed martial arts league in the world is the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). However, with mixed martial arts being so diverse ranging from different fighting techniques to different rules, fighters are able to compete in different leagues or tournaments such as Strikeforce, Japan's DREAM or the Bellator Fighting Championships.

There are 323 fighters competing in 8 different weight categories in the UFC, but only a few of them have really caught my attention, particularly Anderson "The Spider" Silva.


(Photo retrieved from Movie-freedom)

 

Originating from Curitiba, Brazil, Silva is arguably one of the greatest and most dominant fighter in the history of MMA fighting and the UFC. He is currently the reigning UFC Middleweight Champion and has been since October 14, 2006 after he knocked out Rich Franklin with a vicious knee to the face in the first round of the fight at UFC 64. He hasn't lost a fight since April 2006 and has won 14 consecutive fights including 9 title defenses. He holds the UFC record for longest winning and title defense streaks.

Anderson Silva is very well rounded fighter and is considered as one of the best in the UFC. He is mainly known for his devastating and precise striking, as well as his lethal Muy Thai leg and knee kicks. Additionally, his ability to counterstrike makes him very dangerous to any of his opponents. Although he's been criticized for his ground game, he's shown improvement by submitting some very good wrestlers such as Chael Sonnen and Dan Henderson in the last couple of years.

He still doesn't have a set date for his next fight or title defending fight, but you can be sure that I won't be missing it! Click here to see some of his knockouts.