The last time Anderson Silva faced off against Chris Weidman, it was Silva’s theatrics that led to his downfall. After egging Weidman on, he allowed himself to become exposed, and Weidman was able to knock Silva down, finishing him on the ground in the second round.
This time around, things may be a little different.
There is no doubt that Silva is one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. Why is that? Because he continues to grow and learn from his mistakes—even at his advanced age of 38.
After their last match, Silva stated afterward , per the Los Angeles Times, that “It was a combination of things that led to that mistake.” Referring to his defeat.
Silva continued: “When I go inside the ropes to fight, I’m not joking, because there’s danger. Some days, you have a good day for working, some days you have a bad day for working. The last fight was my bad day.”
Expect a better day from Silva during UFC 168.
Silva is well aware of Weidman’s wrestling style and knows the importance of staying upright against such a forceful opponent on the mat.
Now 38 fights into his career, Silva still remains the most accurate striker in UFC history, landing 67 percent of his total attempted strikes—all the more reason to remain standing.
So, how can Silva accomplish this against a talented wrestler like Weidman?
Well, he’s done it before.
Back in 2012, Silva was able to get the best of Chael Sonnen, an excellent wrestler, during their match at UFC 148.
During that matchup, Silva played it smart in the second round. He remained on the defensive and took his shots when given the opportunity. This tactic allowed Silva to react quickly and avoid attempted takedowns from Sonnen.
From there, Sonnen seemed to get a little desperate and began to take some chances against the champion. This gave Silva the opportunity to connect with repeated strikes, ultimately finishing the challenger off in impressive fashion.
Expect Silva to utilize this same tactic when facing Weidman on Saturday.
Silva’s patient approach to this ensuing matchup will allow him to remain upright and continue striking. Silva will highlight his own strengths along with Weidman’s weaknesses to emerge victorious this time around.
Silva has been around for a long time. He continues to learn and grow. Rest assured, he will be well prepared when he enters the Octagon on Saturday.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com