Anderson Silva
Counter-striker behind the UFC's longest title reign
- Born
- April 14, 1975, São Paulo, Brazil
- Nationality
Brazil- Height
- 188 cm (6′2″)
- Reach
- 197 cm (6′6″)
- Stance
- Southpaw
- Style
- Elusive counter-striker
- Weight
- Middleweight, Welterweight, Light Heavyweight
- Active
- 1997–2020
- Status
- Retired · age 51
The record
Professional MMA only; he also boxed professionally (4-2). record
The story
nderson Silva held the UFC middleweight title from 2006 to 2013, a 2,457-day reign that is still the longest in company history. In that span he won 16 straight UFC fights and made 10 successful title defenses. Trained in Muay Thai, taekwondo, boxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, he preferred to fight standing and on the counter, switching between southpaw and orthodox and slipping punches with small head and shoulder movements. His front-kick knockout of Vitor Belfort and his fifth-round triangle choke of Chael Sonnen, now a Hall of Fame fight, show the range of his game. The reign ended with two losses to Chris Weidman in 2013. He had his last MMA fight in 2020, finishing 34-11 with one no contest, and has also boxed professionally.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- UFC middleweight champion (2006–2013, 10 successful defenses)
- Cage Rage middleweight champion (3 defenses)
- Shooto middleweight champion
- UFC Hall of Fame, Pioneer Wing (2023)
- UFC Hall of Fame, Fight Wing (2024): vs Chael Sonnen, UFC 117
Defining fights
- 2006WINvs Rich Franklin (KO R1, won UFC middleweight title)
- 2010WINvs Chael Sonnen (triangle choke R5)
- 2011WINvs Vitor Belfort (front kick KO R1)
- 2012WINvs Chael Sonnen (TKO R2)
- 2013LOSSvs Chris Weidman (KO R2, lost title)
Make opponents miss by a few centimetres, then counter straight down the middle with a punch or front kick. Kickboxing and Muay Thai students can drill slip-and-counter and lean-back-and-counter rounds against a partner's advancing jab, finishing with a front kick up the middle.
