The Spider’s Web

Patrick Cote did something that no other fighter had been able to do in the UFC. He took the pound for pound best fighter in the world into the 3rd round of their title fight at UFC 90. Funny how great that would sound to the person that missed out on the fight, or hasn’t watched it yet. The real story of the fight is much different than the above catch line that many authors will write. Anderson Silva looked far from impressive. He looked better hitting pads on TUF than he did in the cage against Cote. At times he seemed like he was auditioning for the next season of Dancing with the Stars or doing his best Ali impression. Unfortunately to ever Silva fan around the world there was plently of floating like a butterfly but not much stinging like a bee, and the victory was actually very awkward. Cote’s knee buckled in what appears to be a serious injury, possibly to the ACL, LCL, or both. The unusual movement outward definitely is the sign of trouble in the knee.

The knee of Cote may have stopped the fight but it may have also stopped some of the slaughter that Silva had coming his way. For the first time in his UFC tenure Silva was part of a boring fight. The boo birds were out in force and the fans let him know how they felt. There are several different theories around the Internet on why the fight was the way it was. The remaining EliteXC fans are calling it rigged, others are saying Silva fought for real, and some even think that the UFC wanted to promote Cote as a true contender (could he really beat Henderson, Franklin, or Bisping?)

People are going to say what they want about the fight. Yes, it was boring, but at the end of the day Silva had his hand raised. Recently reports have surfaced that Silva will be calling it quits at the end of his contract with the UFC. Could it be that the best fighter in the world is simply getting bored? He seemed to be playing with Cote, especially with the bow at the end of the first and offering his hand to help Cote up later in the fight. Could be be at a point where he is tired of training? Does he feel that he has completed every goal set in the UFC? Sure, there are fighters that can push him, but lets be honest the UFC can’t afford to have him fight those guys. It would do nothing for Silva to fight against Chuck. Chuck is on the down slide and a win would do nothing more than prove that fact.

The question that fans should be asking is what is next for Silva? At this point him fighting at 185 is a mere joke. Bisping is the only guy that he hasn’t destroyed, and is the only guy at 185 remaining for the UFC to push for a title shot at (except for Hendo, but he looks to be a 205′er for now). The 205 pound weight division is the deepest in all of MMA, and there are several guys that Silva could be matched up with for interesting match ups. Three of which are Lyoto Machida, Thiago Silva, or any up and comer that wants to have his name in lights that is outside the top 5.

All in all the spider’s web is a very complex place, and the only one that knows exactly what was going through his mind during the fight is him. Everyone is baffled with the performance even Dana White. One thing is for certain, next time out he will push the fight. I can imagine that Dana and Silva will have a talk in the future, and with a smile Dana will say something to the extent of “that was cool and all, but how bout we not do that again…”

Anderson Silva is still the best fighter in the world. He is still undefeated in the UFC. He has won 8 straight against the best the division has to offer. This win changes nothing and certainly did not show any weakness of any kind. At this point in time it seems like the only person that can beat Anderson Silva is Anderson Silva. However, he is not unbeatable and it is only a matter of time before the spider is squashed.