Arguably the greatest mixed-martial artist to have ever walked on the face of the earth.
It’s possible there will never be another fighter quite like Silva, as he’s never endured the feelings of defeat since entering the Octagon.
In fact, even in the lowest moments of his career, “The Spider” has found a way to overcome adversity and defy all odds, such as his come-from-behind submission victory over Chael Sonnen at UFC 117.
Silva has become the author of the record book; he’s successfully defended his middleweight title in nine consecutive bouts.
Silva’s dominance leads us to two burning questions.
What does Silva have left to prove? And does he even need the UFC?
It would be plausible to think that Silva could up-and-leave the UFC and still be the greatest martial artist of all time.
Silva’s dominance over the years has catapulted him into a category of his own where he essentially has nothing left to prove.
In fact, it would be ideal to state that the UFC needs Silva more than he needs them. With a Silva departure, the UFC would be missing out on arguably their No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter.
In addition, the UFC recently underwent two retirements from BJ Penn and enormous fan-favorite Brock Lesnar.
It’s not just Silva’s impressive record, but also his style and excitement, that has allowed him to draw many fans.
Not only would the UFC lose their go-to guy, but they’ll lose what some believe to be the most exciting fighter in MMA today.
A farewell from Silva would only mean bad things for the UFC. They would see a significant drop in buyouts, as Silva would no longer be present, ultimately resulting in an annual decrease.
While Silva has certainly used the UFC as a platform for his great success, the UFC needs Silva a lot more than he needs them.
For additional information, follow Garrett Derr on Twitter.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com