Anderson Silva: A Protected Legacy

Anderson Silva is the greatest fighter in MMA history. He is one of the greatest fighters of all time. He is one of the most dominant athletes of all time.

His ability to create video-game-like moves and make the most improbable movie-fight scenes appear believable is truly a blessing to the sports world.

However, he is also heavily protected by the UFC and is given soft opponents.

The UFC's refusal to truly allow the Brazilian to showcase his skills against the best is a crime against talent and the human spirit. Many of his foes have been quickly evicted from the UFC, which proves they were never worthy of competing against the universally recognized pound-for-pound king.

Travis Lutter

Anderson's first title defense was scheduled to be against Travis Lutter. Lutter, after coming in overweight and making the match a non-title affair, did well in the first round. He scored some takedowns, had mount position and managed to land some significant shots. 

Yet, he arrived with only one round of cardio in him as he had little left in the second round and succumbed to strikes from a triangle position.

In Lutter's next match versus Rich Franklin, the same scenario unfolded. Travis almost won the match in the first round, but came out empty in the second and lost.

His record post-Silva is 0-1 in the UFC and 1-2 overall. His last fight was in May 2010. He was quickly discarded by the UFC one fight after facing the champ.

Nate Marquardt

Nate's post-Silva record is 6-3. The UFC recently released him amid controversy regarding testosterone therapy.

Nate has never really proved himself to be in the same stratosphere as the pound-for-pound titlists. He lost in the first round and has never demonstrated any reason to warrant a rematch. He was simply another pedestrian challenge that never really threatened the king.

Dan Henderson

Dan Henderson is a legend and an icon. He is a symbol for heart and bushido spirit.

This was a great fight. Henderson indisputably won the first round. Silva defeated him in the second via rear naked choke.

There should have been a rematch—after all, that's how legends are made. Morales-Pacquiao had three wars. Frazier-Ali also met thrice. Dan Henderson could have been the Federer to Nadal that Silva's mystique enhancement requires.

Yet, Henderson, for some unknown reason, has yet to be given a rematch.

Even more curious, after winning three straight fights and coldcocking Michael Bisping, he was allowed to leave the UFC to head for Strikeforce. One ponders, is it because he posed such a threat? Why was there no rematch?

Henderson is now 41 years old and his war-torn body has been competing for a long time. Each passing day steals potential glory from Silva as the asterisk grows with time. He is 4-0 in the UFC since his loss to Silva and 7-1 overall.

James Irvin

James Irvin is 0-2 in the UFC and overall 2-4 post-Silva. He lost his next two UFC fights and was released.

Silva climbed to light heavyweight for this bout, ostensibly to give the champ a bigger test. In 2008, there were many quality light heavyweights to choose from. Thiago Silva, Rashad Evans, Quinton Jackson were all worthy of competing for the pound-for-title. 

Why James Irvin? If this really was to test Irvin, why was Irvin let go so soon after? It is most probable that Irwin was assessed to be a soft bout for Silva, and it was. Anderson destroyed him in the first round.

This showed the world that he was at the top of his game and obviously ready to be challenged by the world's best. While the world waited with baited breath to see how great a man can fight, the competition weakened. So, who was next?

Patrick Cote

What a joke this was.

Cote lost his next two UFC fights and was released. Cote is 3-2 post-Silva.

The French-Canadian's title shot legitimacy was dubious at best. He quit in the middle of the fight due to a non-fight-related knee injury.

This bout epitomized an anti-climatic finish and reflected the absurdity of Cote as a challenger choice. Admittedly, Patrick did win five in a row prior to the title shot, but none of those opponents were title contenders. 

Thales Leites

After disappointing the world with the Cote title shot, the UFC responded by offering Thales Leites.

Leites, an accomplished BJJ artist, had proven he was far from an "A" level MMA fighter. He had not dominated nor looked impressive at all in his title-contender run.

His placement as No. 1 contender was confusing. How somebody could see him—with his rudimentary striking and limited takedown skills—as a serious contender to the No. 1 fighter in the world is incomprehensible.

Leites, being Silva's friend, survived the five rounds by flopping and being carried by the champ. This set the fledgling sport back decades and was an affront to both sports and entertainment.

Thales lasted one more fight in the UFC before he was released. He is now 5-1 post-Silva fighting "C" fighters.

Forrest Griffin

Forrest is amiable and charismatic. It would be sacrilege to write ill of the man who has done so much for the sport. Yet, he was fodder for Silva in the Brazilian's second and last bout at light heavyweight.

Griffin is slow and has no defense. He was the light heavyweight version of Chris Leben and was there to be destroyed.

This would have been an opportunity for Silva to challenge the world's best. Yet, he was given a tailor-made opponent. Silva could have battled the earlier mentioned light heavyweights or Lyoto Machida. A Shogun Rua battle would have also been interesting considering their history at Chute Box.

Alas, this was not to be the case. Griffin is 2-1 in the UFC post-Silva.

Chael Sonnen

Chael deserved an immediate rematch. After winning four-and-a-half rounds, he lost via triangle choke, something he tends to do a lot.

When he returned from his suspension, he had to fight two more people: Brain Stann and Michael Bisping. The American wrestling star was scheduled to fight Mark Munoz, who had defeated Sonnen in a collegiate wrestling match and was a bad match-up for the Oregon fighter.

Why would the UFC not give him a shot right away? It is an extremely lucrative bout that Chael would hype splendidly.

Sonnen's dominance warrants a match against Silva. Moreover, Silva himself seeks to fight Chael, who made insulting remarks extending to Silva's homeland, camp and wife.

This was a no-brainer, but it was delayed. This is illogical, contravenes sound business sense and betrays the rematch code of the fight world.

Jon Jones

How is it that long-time training partners Rashad Evans and Jon Jones can fight, but Anderson Silva and Jon Jones cannot?

Silva stated he would not fight Machida when Lyoto was pronounced to be leading the Machida era because they are "brothers." Now, Silva and Jones also cannot fight because of their alleged close personal relationship?

Jones is the newer version of Silva. It would be the greatest clash between two mega-talented fighters in the history of the sport. It would surpass CroCop-Fedor and GSP-Penn 2. It would be the two most dominant fighters in the sport clashing for pound-for-pound supremacy like never before.

Nothing on the planet save Pacquiao-Mayweather could equal this matchup. It needs to happen sooner rather than later, or it will not be relevant because the Spider is reaching his waning cycle.

George St-Pierre

Dana White often laments about how boxing never gives fans the fights they want. He is right; boxing often offers undesired bouts. However, the fights Anderson Silva has been given are comparable in terms of being unsolicited and dissatisfying.

Obviously both GSP and Silva have cleared out their divisions. This is the fight fans have long begged for—why are they never even close to fighting?

It just doesn't make sense. Why would the undisputed No. 1 and No. 2 fighters not fight?

Conclusion

His greatest feat to date is his unprecedented 14 consecutive UFC victories. Among that list, how many are legends? Only Dan Henderson.

Anderson Silva's talents are being wasted. The world is being cheated. His legacy is weakened.

His window is closing. Let's make the big fights happen now lest he repeat the failings of fighters past. Joe Calzaghe, Sven Ottke, and Floyd Mayweather are all undefeated boxers who will be most remembered—or forgotten—for their failings to challenge the best in their prime.

Think of a great athlete. Did they overcome an obstacle? Did they surmount a great challenge? Probably. Like Larry and Magic, Wilt and Russel, Borg and McEnroe, champions benefit from each other's competitive spirit.

Silva needs to be tested. Throwing him challengers that last one, two or three more fights in the UFC is a testament to the fact that even the UFC holds no regard for their ability to dethrone the man.

Next month, Silva will be 37. He needs to rematch Sonnen and Henderson, fight GSP, and battle Jon Jones to have done justice to his incredible talent.

Mike Tyson never bested a great champ, and that taints his legacy. Unless the UFC changes their policy, it appears the mystique of the Spider may also carry a question mark into the books of sports folklore.

That would be a crime against Anderson and he deserves better. How great can he be? How incredible is he? It's well past time to find out.