The Arrogance of Anderson Silva: A Story of Poetic Justice

Photo from mmafighting.com

On July 6, 2013 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, UFC 162 took place. The main even was Anderson "The Spider" Silva, versus Chris Weidman. Silva (age 38) came into the fight as the UFC Middleweight Champion holding a mixed martial arts record of 33-4 with 20 knockouts and six submissions. It is also worth noting that all of those four loses were recorded before Silva signed with the UFC. Weidman (age 39) was a relative newcomer with only five UFC fights in his career and four bouts in the Ring of Combat fighting league. But don't let his lack of experience fool you. Before July 6th, Weidman was 9-0 with four knockouts and three submissions and was the number one contender in the middleweight class.

Even going up against a man nearly nine years younger than him, it seemed that Silva had the upper-hand. Vegas odds had him as the favorite and most bloggers and analysts, while skeptical, still predicted him as the eventual victor. After all, it's hard to pick against the guy who has knocked out big names like Forrest Griffin and Vitor Belfort, and who has been proclaimed by many as the best mixed martial artist of all time. The Muhammad Ali of MMA.

If you watch tapes of The Spider, it is hard to find a a true weakness in his fighting style. But he does have one weakness that up until Saturday, had yet to be exploited. Anderson Silva is incredibly arrogant.

In 2010 at UFC 112, Silva was widely criticized for what UFC President Dana White would later describe as the most embarrassing moment in his career as president.

Silva, who was scheduled for the main event, danced around the ring for five rounds barely putting forth any effort, taunting his opponent, and hardly throwing punches.  The fans in the arena began booing the defending champion and leaving the fight early. White was so disgusted by the fight that he left in the fourth round and gave the championship belt to Silva's manager, claiming he did not even want to personally give the belt to the fighter. Silva would end up winning by unanimous decision.

The fight was arguably the lowest point in the UFC's otherwise pristine history. Fans who bought tickets and paid the expensive fee for pay-per-view were outraged. White claimed that Silva didn't deserve bouts with top fighters like Georges St-Pierre, and writers were claiming that despite his talent, he was ultimately bad for the sport.

Silva managed to redeem himself by winning his next 5 fights, but fans have always remembered his embarrassing performance in 2010.

Flash forward to Saturday. Silva refused to touch gloves with Weidman after introductions are made, which isn't totally uncommon, but most fighters are willing to show a bit of respect before they spend the next 25 minutes punching each other.

The first round was not exactly fight of the night material, with both fighters exchanging blows and Weidman scoring a big take down.  But Silva was not making the highlight reel for his punches.  He had already began taunting Weidman and dancing around the ring.

Weidman had won the first round, but that did not stop The Spider from playing his mind games. Silva continued to trash talk Weidman before the second round started and when the fighters approached each other, Silva kept his guard down. Hands on his hips. Walking flat-footed. Scoffing at the other fighter. Lazily leaning out of the way and demanding that Weidman give it his best shot. Well, luckily for UFC fans, Chris Weidman was more than happy to oblige.

Silva, who had his arms down, caught a left hook from Weidman and immediately hit the canvas. Weidman wasted no time jumping all over Silva and pounding his fist into the Spider's face until the referee declared Weidman the winner by knockout.

Everyone's immediate reaction was shock. But for anyone who watched UFC 112 in 2010, that shock quickly turned into long-awaited satisfaction.

What Anderson Silva displayed on Saturday was pure arrogance and shocking immaturity from a 38 year old fighter with nearly 40 fights on his résumé. He knew that he was is the greatest mixed martial artist of all time. He knew that he could easily win this fight against a guy who had fought in less than 10 professional bouts. And he knew he was in for a quick payday. What did he do? Taunt and undermine his opponent until he lost.

I can't take away anything from Weidman. He has worked hard to earn this belt and deserves it for sure. But I can't help but wonder what would have happened is Silva had gone on the offensive. Would Weidman still be the Middleweight Champ?

Saturday looked very similar to what Silva did in 2010. Only this time around, justice was served and the guy who actually showed up and did his job, won. Silva should be embarrassed and ashamed of himself.

 I heard him talk on the radio the other day and he couldn't stop mentioning how the UFC isn't the big picture, but respecting the martial arts is the most important part of his life. How do we take him seriously when he says things like that?  I never studied jiu jitsu but I doubt that disrespecting your opponent and making a spectacle of yourself is proper practice of MMA.

Silva is still a good fighter, no doubt about it. But this loss should hit home for him. Dana White couldn't convince him to shape up. Neither could his fans. Maybe a loss of this magnitude is just what he needs. And he will get his shot. White has already promised a rematch.

Hopefully, the next time we see Anderson Silva in the cage, he will fight with the determination and vigor of a man trying to prove that he's not the butt-end of a joke in the UFC. Hopefully he fights like the champion he is.  And if not, I doubt most MMA fans will mind seeing Chris Weidman knock him out again.