Anderson “The Spider” Silva is the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s ultimate fighting machine. In his 34 fight MMA career, “The Spider” has only ever been dismantled by four men; one Brazilian and three combatants from Japan.
Let’s say, for arguments sake, that Brazilian Luiz Azeredo is removed from the equation. What becomes abundantly clear is that Anderson Silva’s last three losses have all been against Japanese opposition, two by submission and one via disqualification.
Daiju Takase finished Silva via Triangle Choke and Ryo Chonan submitted him by way of one of the most amazingly preposterous and intrepid moves to have ever been witnessed in an MMA tournament, the Flying Scissor Heel Hook.
His last loss, against Yushi “The Thunder” Okami, was a loss by default. Even though Anderson vehemently stated that the rules had not been accurately elucidated to him before the fight, the fact remains that Anderson lost the fight after illegally kicking Okami’s chin. Whether by default or not, he lost and that’s what the record books will show.
As far as the UFC and the middleweight division go, his feats are unparalleled. Will the enigmatic and superlative Anderson Silva avenge his last loss to Okami at UFC 134 in Rio Brazil, or will history repeat itself? On a more significant note, will he finally lay to rest the rumors that he has a weakness when pitted against fighters from the Land of the Rising Sun?
It is worth noting that “The Spider” is more than five and half years removed from his last loss in all competitions. However, during the intervening years he has grown as a fighter and evolved into arguably the greatest mixed martial artist of all time.
That being said, “The Spider” has had three bad days at the Japanese office to date. And on any given day, any given athlete can have a bad day.
Analysts and fans alike or not privy to what goes on in a fighters mind prior to a fight. As Muhammad Ali once said, “The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses – behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights”.
So does Anderson have some sort of mental barrier going into this fight against Okami, given that his last three losses have been against Japanese fighters? Will Silva put pressure on himself, knowing that he is fighting in front of his home crowd? If this is the case, then Yushin Okami has an even better chance of dethroning “The Spider”.
From a subjective point of view, I think Anderson Silva will be thirsty to avenge his prior loss and set the record straight.
I have “The Spider” winning in an emphatic manner via KO/TKO strikes.
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