Anderson Silva

Anderson Silva
MMA Record : 19-4
UFC Record : 4-0
Title : UFC middleweight title

Anderson Silva has been in the UFC for just over a year now. His first UFC fight was against Chris Leben. Leben is known for his heavy hands and good chin...until he met Anderson Silva. Silva took just 49 seconds to finish off Leben in spectacular fashion, announcing to the UFC faithful "I have arrived".

Silva's 7 career didn't start with the UFC, he's fought to a 19-4 record in the process facing some of the all time greats. He's faced Carlos Newton and won. He also won over Lee Murray, if you don't remember who Lee Murray is, he was the guy who claimed he beat up Tito Ortiz outside of a bar...there was a lot of noise about a possible matchup between Murray and Ortiz, but it never materialized.

Anderson Silva also holds victories over Jeremy Horn, one of the best known submission guys in MMA.

I'm sure most know Anderson Silva by his UFC career though, which includes wins over Chris Leben, Rich Franklin (for the middleweight title), Travis Lutter and Nathan Marquardt. Silva still holds the UFC middleweight title belt and is expected to defend the belt later this year against Franklin.

We always look toward and exciting fight when Anderson Silva steps into the ring, he has outstanding stand up skills. He uses the clinch well (as shown against Rich Franklin) and his punches are pin point accurate. But there is something more to his stand up...something hard to put your finger on. It's his comfort level, his willingness to take risks and by the looks of it, his natural ability. We've all seen boxers with knockout power, fighters with fast hands or fighters who hit hard. Fighters who can hit from all angles and throw with confidence naturally are harder to come by. Chuck Liddell is one fighter like that, Anderson Silva is another.

One thing that gives Anderson Silva the ability to take chances that other strikers don't, chances like flying knees, is his ability on the ground. Travis Lutter and Nate Marquardt are both excellent ground fighters, but in the end neither of them mounted an effective attack, in fact Lutter ended up getting submitted by Silva.

Eventually, the changes that Silva takes will catch up to him and he'll loose a fight because of it. However, I would expect that he will come back in a rematch and win...possibly even using the same technique, he's that good. We can expect to see Anderson Silva in the Octagon for a long time, at the top or near the top of the 185 pound division.

Next Fight: Rich Franklin

The UFC 73 Fight Card, named appropriately "Stacked" has been finalized according to UFC.com. Of course, we've known all about this stellar card for a long time, but here is the official version from UFC.com.

First of all, there are two title fights. The middleweight and lightweight titles are on the line on July 7th.

UFC Middleweight Title Fight:
Anderson Silva vs Nate Marquardt

UFC Lightweight Title Fight:
Sean Sherk vs Hermes Franca

If there were no other fights on the UFC 73 Fight Card than those two, it would still be worth watching, but in the immortal words of Ronco, but wait, there's more!

How about the UFC debut of top heavyweight submission artist Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira facing Heath Herring in what is sure to be a match set up to decide a UFC Heavyweight title shot.

and there is also the return of lightweight wizard Kenny Florian who faces UFC newcomer Alvin Robinson

and the night is rounded out with three more fights:
Jorge Gurgel vs Diego Saraiva
Chris Lytle vs Drew Fickett
Frank Edgar vs Mark Bocek

But wait, there's more!

Stephan Bonnar is also back in the octagon, taking on Ultimate Fighter season three alumni Mike Nickels.

Ok, if I stopped here you would buy the PPV, wouldn't you, but as I said before...wait, there's more:
Tito Ortiz vs Rashad Evans
Who knows if the bad blood between these two is for real, or just their attempt to hype the fight. Let me tell you, this fight does not need hype. It will be an all out war between two wrestlers who've improved every aspect of their game. I am not looking forward to having to do a prediction on this fight!

Remember to stop by UFC Ultimate Fighter for UFC 73 Predictions in the coming days/weeks and UFC 73 Results following the fight

Just a quick update on a bunch of different things:

Upcoming UFC events
UFC 71 - Chuck Liddell vs Quinton Jackson May 26th
UFC Fight Night Live - Sam Stout vs Spencer Fisher June 12
UFC 72 - Rich Franklin vs Yushin Okami June 16th
Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale Jens Pulver vs BJ Penn June 23rd
UFC 73 - Tito Ortiz vs Rashad Evans July 7

Looks like the next month and a half will be extremely exciting for the UFC fans out there. Also, lets not forget the debut's of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mauricio Shogun Rua. Also Forrest Griffin, Keith Jardine, Heath Herring, Anderson Silva, Nate Marquardt, Kenny Floirian, Chris Leben, Sean Sherk, Hermes Franca and a number of other big names are spread across these cards. Keep tuned here for predictions on all the big fights.

Also, post a comment on who you'd like to see Shogun face first in the UFC. I think he should warm up with Stephan Bonner.

UFC 73 is shaping up to be one of the best cards ever. With two championship bouts and the debut of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira this card will be amazing. When is the last time you saw a Tito Ortiz bout take the back seat to three other bouts on a card?

Champion Sean Sherk vs Hermes Franca
Champion Anderson Silva vs Nate Marquardt
Heath Herring vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Rashad Evans vs Tito Ortiz
Kenny Florian vs Alvin Robinson
Stephan Bonnar vs Mike Nickels
Jeff Joslin vs Chris Lytle
Jorge Gurgel vs Diego Saraiva