I learned two fun facts this weekend. Anderson Silva worked at McDonalds in Brazil before becoming a professional fighter. Two, Silva is a Spiderman comic book fanatic to a scary devoted degree. There was a third thing, now that I think about it. Oh yeah, “The Spider†might be the pound for pound best fighter in the world. Better then Couture? Better then Kid Yamamoto? Even better than BJ Penn? MMA opinion makers are saying so. Who am I to disagree? But how can you be the best in the world at what you do (regardless of weight) when the people at your weight -185- aren’t on a level to test you? Ask Fedor.
If you read my preview of UFC 77, you know I think Anderson deserved a lot more respect then he was getting the last half a year. All we’ve heard is “Dan Henderson needs to drop down and save 185†and “it’s a division in shamblesâ€. Seems like baring Hendo or a WEC theft of Paulo Filho, no middleweight on the planet is gonna stand or lay with Anderson Silva. So why am I pouting now that the coronation ceremony has commenced, even though I’ve screamed about respect for Silva in other writings too?
Because the leap from an under appreciated Anderson to a pound for pound best Silva was an inevitable crushing of Rich Franklin. That’s it. Fedor didn’t fall over and break his leg. Couture could still fight again (I know he’s not REALLY the p-4-p champ, but work with mainstream perception here), and the Kid isn’t jumping back into the Olympics again. In fact, last I heard that Russian fellow announced he was getting his ducks in a row, and U. Faber was still surfin’ on the coast.
Don’t get me wrong. It’s well time for the Brazilian stand up fighter to have his day. I even like that his main weapon isn’t BJJ. It’s why I felt refreshed by that OTHER Silva who stands and dominated for four years in Pride. But the path shouldn’t be cleared in one uneventful weekend. How about we give him his respect, we say he’s tops at 185, and we put him at three in the world. Or we do a novel thing and lay off the rankings. Force guys like me to really come up with relevant important commentary. That’ll be the day.
PS - You know you’re having a good week when CBS Sportsline writers piggy back your Sh!t. I gotta say though, there’s real wholes in that “the sky is falling” article. Plus, I swear we’ve had five articles that start with “Dana, your promotion’s got a F&$in’ problem!” See, cause Dana curses. Man, I gotta get paid for this stuff.
E-mail John Philapavage at johnnyp@mmaopinion.com
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