85 Facts About Anderson Silva

Anderson Silva is a former UFC Middleweight Champion and holds the record for the longest title reign in UFC history at 2,457 days.

Anderson Silva was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in July 2023.

Anderson Silva was born on 14 April 1975, in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Anderson Silva made his professional debut in 1997 with a pair of wins.

Anderson Silva recorded his first loss in 2000 to Luiz Azeredo by decision.

Anderson Silva beat Sakurai by unanimous decision after three rounds and became the new Shooto Middleweight Champion and the first man to defeat Sakurai, who was undefeated in his first 20 fights.

In 2002, Anderson Silva was scheduled to fight then-current UFC Welterweight Champion, and future UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes at UFC 36.

However, Anderson Silva instead signed a contract and began fighting for PRIDE Fighting Championships.

At Pride 25, Anderson Silva faced former UFC welterweight champion Carlos Newton.

Newton tried to shoot in on Anderson Silva, but was hit with a flying knee.

Newton collapsed and Anderson Silva finished the fight with strikes, winning by technical knockout.

However Anderson Silva was dominated on the ground for almost the entire fight before being submitted by Takase when caught in a triangle choke late in the first round.

Anderson Silva then left Chute Boxe, joined Nogueira in Brazilian Top Team and started to fight in other promotions around the world.

On 27 June 2004, Anderson Silva fought Jeremy Horn and earned a decision victory.

Three months later, Anderson Silva made his debut in the Cage Rage promotion in England.

At Cage Rage 8 Anderson Silva fought and defeated noted striker Lee Murray by decision.

Anderson Silva was in control with a take down and body triangle in the first round.

Anderson Silva later said that the rule had not been properly explained to him before the bout.

Anderson Silva made his debut at Ultimate Fight Night 5 on 28 June 2006.

Anderson Silva's opponent was The Ultimate Fighter 1 contestant Chris Leben who had gone undefeated in the UFC with five consecutive victories.

Anderson Silva fought Franklin at UFC 64 on 14 October 2006, and defeated him by TKO at 2:59 in the first round.

Anderson Silva hit Franklin with knees to the body from the Muay Thai-clinch, then badly broke Franklin's nose with a knee to the face.

Anderson Silva was crowned the new UFC Middleweight Champion, becoming the second man to defeat Franklin, after Black House-teammate Lyoto Machida.

On 3 February 2007, at UFC 67, Anderson Silva was scheduled to fight The Ultimate Fighter 4 winner Travis Lutter in what would be his first title defense since defeating Rich Franklin in October 2006.

Anderson Silva won via submission with a combination of a triangle choke and elbow strikes in the second round.

Three months later, on 20 October 2007, at UFC 77, Anderson Silva fought a title defense rematch against Rich Franklin, in Franklin's hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, at the US Bank Arena.

Anderson Silva defended his belt by defeating Franklin via TKO in the 2nd round.

On 1 March 2008, at UFC 82 Anderson Silva fought Pride Middleweight champion Dan Henderson, in a title unification bout.

Anderson Silva defended his title by defeating Henderson via rear naked choke in the 2nd round.

At UFC Fight Night 14 on 19 July 2008, Anderson Silva made his debut at Light Heavyweight in a bout against James Irvin.

Anderson Silva won via KO due to strikes in 1:01 of the first round after catching Irvin's attempted leg kick with his left arm and delivering a straight right that dropped Irvin to the mat, Anderson Silva then finished a prone Irvin with a blitz of punches to the head.

Anderson Silva's next fight was on 25 October 2008, at UFC 90 in Rosemont, Illinois, Anderson Silva defended his Middleweight title against Patrick Cote.

On 18 April 2009, at UFC 97 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Anderson Silva defeated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blackbelt Thales Leites by unanimous decision, and recorded his UFC record 9th consecutive win in the octagon.

At UFC 101 which took place on 8 August 2009, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Anderson Silva again fought at 205 pounds against former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin.

Anderson Silva did not relinquish his title to fight exclusively at Light Heavyweight.

Anderson Silva was expected to defend the UFC Middleweight Championship against Vitor Belfort on 2 January 2010, at UFC 108.

Anderson Silva was then set to face Belfort on 6 February 2010, at UFC 109.

Anderson Silva was scheduled to face Belfort on 10 April 2010, at UFC 112.

Anderson Silva looked to Maia to be the aggressor while he largely circled and taunted his opponent.

White was so annoyed that he declined to personally place the belt around Anderson Silva's waist, claiming it was the first time he had done so after a title match.

On 7 August 2010, Anderson Silva faced Chael Sonnen for the UFC Middleweight title at UFC 117.

Anderson Silva later claimed to have gone into the fight with a cracked rib and that a doctor advised him not to fight.

Anderson Silva faced Vitor Belfort on 5 February 2011, at UFC 126.

Anderson Silva landed a front kick to Belfort's jaw and followed up with punches to the grounded challenger.

Anderson Silva then faced Yushin Okami on 27 August 2011, at UFC 134.

Anderson Silva defeated the Japanese middleweight by TKO at 2:04 of round 2, displaying skilled head movement and accurate striking.

At UFC 148, after again being dominated throughout the first round, Anderson Silva stopped Sonnen in the second with a TKO.

Anderson Silva became the first to stop Stephan Bonnar via strikes in the 1st round of a light heavyweight bout on 13 October 2012, at UFC 153.

Immediately after the fight, Anderson Silva had orthopedic surgery to stabilize his tibia with an intramedullary rod; his fibula was reset and was not expected to require further surgery.

Anderson Silva's continued participation was briefly in doubt during the filming after the announcement of his failed drug test.

Subsequently, Anderson Silva was pulled as one of the coaches and was replaced by Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

On 11 February 2015, it was reported that Anderson Silva tested positive for an additional unknown illegal substance in a separate test that was related to UFC 183.

Anderson Silva tested positive for the anti-anxiety medication Oxazepam and Temazepam, which is used to treat sleep deprivation.

Anderson Silva admitted to using both benzodiazepines the night prior to the fight as therapy to control stress and help him sleep.

However, the fight was not without controversy as at the end of round three Anderson Silva dropped Bisping with a flying knee while Bisping was signaling to referee Herb Dean that he lost his mouthpiece.

Anderson Silva believed he had won the bout and continued to celebrate as referee Herb Dean said the fight was not over, and it continued for another two rounds to the decision.

Anderson Silva was expected to face Uriah Hall on 14 May 2016, at UFC 198.

Anderson Silva was a short notice replacement to face current UFC Light Heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier in a non-title bout on 9 July 2016, at UFC 200.

Anderson Silva faced Derek Brunson on 11 February 2017, at UFC 208.

Anderson Silva was expected to face Kelvin Gastelum on 3 June 2017, at UFC 212.

However it was announced on 10 November 2017 that Anderson Silva would be pulled from the bout due to failing USADA drug test on 26 October.

In July 2018, USADA announced that Anderson Silva had been exonerated from the failed test after finding contaminated supplements and received a one-year suspension from USADA dating back to November 2017 and would be free to resume fighting in November 2018.

Anderson Silva returned and faced Israel Adesanya on 10 February 2019, at UFC 234.

Anderson Silva faced Jared Cannonier on 11 May 2019 at UFC 237.

Anderson Silva lost the fight via TKO in the first round after a kick from Cannonier to Silva's right leg injured him and rendered him unable to continue.

Anderson Silva faced Uriah Hall on 31 October 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Hall vs Anderson Silva.

Anderson Silva lost the fight via technical knockout in round four.

In March 2021, it was announced that Anderson Silva would fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

Anderson Silva threw more punches throughout the fight throwing a total of 392 punches while Chavez Jr only threw 153.

Anderson Silva faced former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz in a pro boxing bout on 11 September 2021.

Anderson Silva won the fight via knockout in round one.

On 22 September 2022, it was announced that Anderson Silva would be facing YouTuber and professional boxer Jake Paul on 29 October in Phoenix, Arizona.

On 21 May 2022, Anderson Silva fought an eight round exhibition bout with fellow Brazilian MMA veteran Bruno Machado at a boxing event in Abu Dhabi.

Anderson Silva faced Chael Sonnen on 15 June 2024 in a five-round, two minute exhibition boxing bout at 216 pounds in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

An expert in Muay Thai, boxing and taekwondo, Anderson Silva is primarily a stand-up fighter.

Owner of numerous UFC offensive striking records, Anderson Silva is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the history of MMA and many consider him the best of all time.

Anderson Silva's striking accuracy, knockout power, technically vicious Muay Thai and ability to counterstrike makes him a danger to his opponents.

Anderson Silva's striking uses three major strengths: technical precision, the jab, and transitions and movement.

Since August 2011, Anderson Silva has been sponsored by Corinthians, his favorite football club.

Anderson Silva is sponsored by fast food chain Burger King.

Anderson Silva has three sons and two daughters with his wife, Dayane.

Anderson Silva considers Spider-Man, Bruce Lee, Muhammad Ali and his mother as biggest of his personal heroes, and has a stated love of comic books and comic book heroes.

Anderson Silva expressed interest in competing in the sport of taekwondo and boxing.

Anderson Silva floated around the idea of competing at the Olympics in taekwondo and fighting Roy Jones Jr.

Anderson Silva has starred in the 2014 action drama film Tapped Out and the 2019 crime action film The Invincible Dragon.