When you talk of the Greatest of All Time in MMA (the GOAT), you have three options for the most part: Georges St. Pierre, recognized as the most dominant welterweight in UFC history. Fedor Emelianenko, widely considered the greatest heavyweight of all time. And Anderson Silva, the greatest middleweight of all time. Each option has its merits, but one thing is for certain: no fighter was as feared as Silva during his peak. "The Spider" had explosiveness that few could match, combined with pinpoint striking accuracy. Facing Anderson Silva was for many akin to a death sentence; their fate was certain, only the time at which it came was up in the air. Though he has not won a fight since 2012, and was defeated twice in 2013 by now middleweight champion Chris Weidman, Anderson Silva remains the consensus greatest middleweight of all time. He continues to hold the record for consecutive wins in the UFC (16) and successful consecutive title defences (10). There is continued interest in who he will fight next - currently planned to be Nick Diaz sometime in early 2015. From there, what Silva does is anyone's guess, but he's still one of the biggest draws in the world of MMA. How did he get to that level? What sets Anderson Silva apart from the rest of the pack? Perhaps it's how he carries himself inside the cage, though that in itself divides fans. There's no questioning his natural talents as a fighter. Maybe it's just the "it" factor. Ali had it. Tyson had it. Silva has it. Whatever you want to see it, Silva has entertained MMA fans for years. So lets take a look, and rank, all eleven of his title fight wins!
Primarily covering the sport of MMA from Ontario, Canada, Jay Anderson has been writing for various publications covering sports, technology, and pop culture since 2001. Jay holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Guelph, and a Certificate in Leadership Skills from Humber College.
