The Next Anderson Silva: The Top 5 Prospects

It is a little bit of a shame that Anderson Silva does not get the kind of attention he could be receiving.  

He is the most dominant and exciting champion in UFC history, but to most audiences he still takes a back seat to names like Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture.

A big part of that is that he is Brazilian, who's native tongue is Portuguese, and he does interact fluidly with English-speaking media.

Despite this handicap, he has been the most important fighter of the past five years- a crucial time for the growth of the sport and the commercial expansion of the UFC.

Who is going to be the next Anderson Silva?

There are other legends that require no comparisons to Silva (Georges St-Pierre), but after Anderson Silva has retired from the spotlight, any jaw-dropping combination of greatness and excitement will inevitably be compared to "The Spider."

These are the current fighters on the radar who very well could be that next thing.  

Gegard Mousasi

With a 30-3-2 record, it is easy to forget that Gegard Mousasi is only 25 years old.

Many felt a bit dissappointed in his last fight (a draw with Keith Jardine), but remember, Anderson Silva was frustratingly shy of reaching his potential when he was in his 20s. 

Other similarities include elite striking and submission abilities with his one weakness being wrestling.

Although originally a native of Iran, Mousasi grew up in the Neatherlands and trains out of there to this day with some of the top fighters in the world.

Like Anderson, Mousasi has moved up a division with great success since the beginning of his career. 

As the 25-year-old continues to polish his game, he could very well become one of the most accomplished fighters that the sport has ever seen.

Jon Jones

The youngest champion in UFC history is dubbed by many as the future of the sport.  Not simply for his fighting ability, but also apparent marketability.

Unlike Silva and the rest of the fighters on this list, Jones actually has a very strong wrestling background.

Despite his strong wrestling base, Jones has already drawn comparisons to Silva due to his lanky frame, elbow strikes, and creativity.

If Jones can replicate some of the success that Silva had on the championship level, it will not be terribly long before people start wondering who the next Jon Jones is going to be.

Charles Oliveira

At only 21 years old, Oliveira is already being thrown into the fire against UFC competition.

If he is a prodigy similar to the likes of Jon Jones and Jose Aldo, however, this is the only way to find out.

By all accounts we should give him some more time to develop, but he is already a threat to many of the fighters near the top of the division.

With creative striking and one of the slickest submission games around, Oliveira is constantly in a state of attack and is hardly ever held in compromising positions.

Off of his killer-instinct alone he is a good candidate, but we still need to learn more about him.

Jose Aldo

UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo has earned a reputation as one of the most talented fighters in the sport because of his destruction of so many fighters in his division.

Aldo mixes in his competent ground game when it suits him, but his real weapon is his dynamic striking game.

Over-time we are seeing Aldo becoming more patient in certain situations and developing his counter-strikes- much like Silva, one of his mentors.

As a dangerous striker and dominant champion, Aldo may continue to draw comparisons to Anderson Silva for also being the torch bearer for Brazilian champions.

Carlos Condit

At 27 years old, Carlos Condit is the oldest fighter on this list.

Anderson Silva did not even join the UFC until he was 31 years old.

Fans of the sport have known of Carlos Condit's potential greatness because he was a WEC champion and Rumble on the Rock tournament finalist.

Under the tutelage of MMA grand-master Greg Jackson, Condit is now really hitting his stride with first-round knockouts in his list two fights over men who had never been knocked out before.

Just like Silva, Condit prefers to attack with his muay thai arsenal, but opponents find taking him to the ground to be a death-trap as well.

Condit could very well be the next challenger for the welterweight championship after Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz fight.