Anderson Silva @ UFC 112...What Was That?

“If he ever acts like that again in the ring I will cut him...I don’t care if he’s the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world. I don’t care if he’s the middleweight champion. I will cut him, absolutely.” - Dana White

I'm not a dedicated fan of UFC - or it's biggest - and not very clued up on the weekly goings on in the octagon.

I had never seen Anderson Silva fight live on television before but had heard that he was the greatest thing in the sport.

What I saw at UFC 112 in the fight against Demian Maia was an exhibition of pure genius coupled with intense frustration.

The first ten minutes was a delight. Akin to Roy Jones Junior, Pernell Whitaker, Naseem Hamed at the peak of their defensive and brilliant best. The speed of his fists was incredible and the ease in which he hit the baffled Maia was close to comedic.

The next 15 minutes was bizarre. Maia was rightly cautious in coming forward and Silva, well, just stopped fighting. The awe inspiring and marvellous spectacle morphed amazingly into a stale and lifeless bout, with the referee stepping in and warning Silva to start fighting else he would deduct a point.

Dana White clearly was less than impressed with Silva but I doubt there will be any throwing out of the UFC, it isn't good business. Unless he plans to kick him out for nine months and make a massive deal out of it for publicity and organizes a mega match with Georges St. Pierre as a comback title fight.

What happened? I'm not sure, that's why I'm writing this piece.

If anybody else knows or has reason why Anderson switched tactics please let me know, because I am confused.

Picture courtesy of AP Images