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Anderson Silva vs Dan Henderson: Silva’s character is one for the ages
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Known as the pound-for-pound king of mixed martial arts, Anderson Silva the human being may surprise people.
Unlike a confident Quinton Jackson, a determined Randy Couture, a charismatic Muhammed Ali, a boastful Floyd Mayweather, or a boisterous Roy Jones Jr, Silva is just a fighter who appreciates being in the ring. To him his experience and lessons of fighter are far more valuable than prestige, reputation, and records.
This Saturday Silva goes against Dan Henderson to determine who is mixed martial arts best middleweight. Silva is the UFC champion (20-4 overall) and is 5-0 in the UFC. Henderson (22-6), however, is a tough customer in his own right. Before he took up MMA, he was a two-time member of the U.S. Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling team (1992 and '96). The former Pride title-holder has a granite chin, a hammer-like right hand and he was the only man to rule two weight classes in Pride (the equivalent of middleweight and light-heavyweight) at the same time.
Many view Silva as the favorite sighting how he wins his bouts. There is talk of how he submitted a jiu-jitsu black belt in Travis Lutter, one of the best ground guys in the UFC. There is talk of how he outmuscled Rich Franklin, who was supposedly the strongest fighter in the middleweight division. And there is talk of how he outwrestled Nate Marquardt, who wrestled with the Olympic team.
However, it is certain the Silva does not let all the talk get to him given the peaceful aura that surrounds and is seemingly in his spirit. The UFC middleweight champion may never have expected to be where he is today. It seems he fights to challenge himself to grow and develop into a better human being. Glory, fame, money and accolades surely do not fit his agenda
According to Cesar Garcia of Sherdog.com, Silva did not voice concern with Henderson’s disapproval of Silva being the top pound-for-pound fighter. Furthermore, that Silva's ground game isn't great despite the black belt he earned under Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. That his victories are a byproduct of having fought guys who complement his style.
"A fight is a fight," Silva says. "If I get through the Henderson fight with a victory and bring the belt back to my camp, then at that point in time I'll focus on the next match. There's really no time to be thinking about legacies."
That said Silva is a practical man who focuses on his love for fighting, his self-belief and work ethic to enhance a successful career as a mixed martial fighter. It may not sound like the stuff legends are made of but for Anderson Silva this suits him just fine.
Win or lose Saturday night we will have the pleasure of watching Anderson Silva the fighter of principles. Principles such as respect, dignity, maturity and patience embody who Silva is as a fighter.
It is safe to say that Silva is more than the perceived vicious fighter that punishes opponents to the point where you might actually begin to feel some concern for their well-being. It is safe to say that it is not in his character.
