Anderson Silva has given UFC fans and experts every reason to believe in him. After all, he hasn’t shown a glimpse of vulnerability in nearly three years and has yet to lose a fight inside the Octagon.
That’s why the Spider is poised to roll to another victory on Saturday at UFC 162, where he’ll make his 11th straight successful title defense look easy against inexperienced challenger Chris Weidman.
The current UFC middleweight champion, Silva is 16-0 in the UFC since making his debut in the Octagon just over seven years ago. But those 16 victories have all come in dominant fashion mostly. Of the 16 wins, only two have come via judges’ decision with the other 14 ending early via knockout, technical knockout or submission.
Even in a match that Silva had no business winning, he found a way to earn a submission victory and extend his streak.
Flashback to August 2010 at UFC 117, when challenger Chael Sonnen dominated Silva for a majority of the fight before the champion broke free late in the fifth and final round to win via a triangle armbar.
While that victory showed Silva’s vulnerability, it also highlighted his ability to get out of any situation inside the Octagon.
Weidman will likely take an approach similar to the one Sonnen took three years ago in Oakland, but that doesn’t guarantee success against the Spider. If the former wrestler doesn’t execute his takedowns perfectly, he could give Silva the opening he needs to land a critical strike.
There are very few weaknesses in Silva’s game, and having fought in 37 professional mixed martial arts bouts over the course of his career, the 38-year-old has faced and solved nearly every situation and problem a fighter can come across.
Plus, we know the moment won’t be too big for Silva. He’s been defending his championship match after match for the past six years. If either fighter is going to let nerves or adrenaline impact his judgment on Saturday, it will be Weidman.
Not only has Anderson Silva proven impossible to beat in the UFC, but he’s rarely been challenged. While Chris Weidman has the talent, athleticism and fighting style to give him problems, history tells us that the Spider will emerge with yet another easy victory.
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