Wanderlei Silva is the definition of a legend. From the moment Sandstorm hits, through the loosened wrists and stare from hell, right on into an unleashed fury the likes of which few can match in a ring or cage, Silva will be remembered as the embodiment of all that’s right in competition.
He’s also perhaps the nicest lunatic the world has ever seen, referring to his fans as his “friends” and constantly wearing a smile after years of soccer kicking overmatched opposition senseless.
However, after a lifetime of putting on wars to bring fans out of their seats instead of looking to win on points, many fear that Silva’s best days are behind him. And those who don’t fear the possibility are the ones who salivate at using him as a big-name notch in their belts.
Yoshihiro Akiyama called him out.
Brian Stann gave it a shot.
Michael Bisping wants some more one day.
Chael Sonnen won’t let their war of words die.
Chris Leben called him out, and got him.
Basically anyone who thinks Wandy is chinny and on the downside of his career wants to get in there and tee off in hopes of being able to claim one day that they beat the legend. Bank on it that if this was 2006, none of these men would be so eager to get in there with him.
But that’s not the point.
The point is that the 2011 Axe Murderer has a target on his back, and he still has the spirit that made him great. He has no fear of any of these men, or anyone else, and he could care less which ones he gets or what order he gets them in. He just wants to fight all of them.
Unfortunately, in order to run down that list, Silva needs to focus more on a gameplan and controlled aggression—as he did successfully against Bisping—than on being the man who tore up Pride with flailing limbs and explosive Muay Thai.
Should he ever get Akiyama, it’s a winnable fight, but not by knockout. He needs to fight smart and play the game a little bit, because Akiyama is as durable as anyone and can make you pay for being reckless.
Stann has likely moved out of Silva’s current range after beating Leben, and could be looking at a top ten guy in his next outing. A decisive win over The Crippler might get Wandy that fight, but again, if he doesn’t control his aggression Stann will hurt him. That’s why he called for him in the first place.
The Bisping/Silva feud is done, get over it Mike. It wasn’t that close, and you ended the fight almost unconscious. That’s not rematch material.
Sonnen is a terrible matchup for Silva, someone who can talk enough to get under his skin a little, and an accomplished wrestler with limitless cardio. That fight ends up with Sonnen in Wandy’s guard, Wandy eating elbows and punches tirelessly for 15 minutes, and Sonnen proving he can at least beat someone named Silva.
This weekend against Leben, recklessness will lead to Wandy looking up at the lights. He can’t take shots like he used to, and Leben has dynamite in his hands. Pedal-to-the-metal forward pressure won’t scare Leben, who can take a punch as well as any middleweight in the world, and the risk of a counter left hand can’t be ignored. Fight smart or suffer a debilitating loss as far as upward mobility in the division is concerned.
In the twilight of his career, Wanderlei Silva needs to realize that he’s done enough for his “friends” that they don’t need—or want—to see him going out on his shield every time he fights. Most would prefer he fight slightly more conservatively, control his aggression, be a little evasive, and explode when necessary. There isn’t any need to throw caution to the wind against middle-of-the-road middleweights if getting back into contention is the goal, because he’s earned the right to put winning ahead of entertaining.
Saturday night will be the first test of whether or not Silva has realized that fully. He did a solid job against Bisping, but the margin for error is smaller against the violent Leben. But either way, he’ll leave it all in the cage as he has his entire career, and no one can ask any less of a mixed martial artist.
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Tony Ferguson