More than just a polarizing champion, Anderson Silva has worn several hats in his near seven-year reign over the UFC’s middleweight division.
The 37-year-old Silva, the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighter who last tasted defeat in January 2006, has played the roles of innovator, standard setter and ambassador, just to name a few.
Although the fledgling sport of mixed martial arts has yet to last the test of time, extraordinary fighters like “The Spider” support the theory that it will.
Here are three ways Silva has changed the sport of MMA.