UFC 126 Buzz: Is Anderson Silva the Best MMA Fighter of All Time?

For several years, Anderson Silva has been tagged by many as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport today.

With the UFC record for consecutive wins and title defenses, he is the most successful fighter in the promotion's history. He is practically universally regarded as the greatest middleweight fighter to ever fight in mixed martial arts history.

On Wednesday, however, UFC president Dana White slipped in a little quote that has been swelling in the minds of the MMA community and is generating some buzz:

"I think what Anderson has accomplished, I think he's the best to ever compete in mixed martial arts." 

Well now, there is something to really consider.  

Anderson Silva is the most successful fighter in the biggest promotion, but is he really the best to ever compete in mixed martial arts?

The greatness of Georges St. Pierre is looming and it could eventually surpass Silva, but St. Pierre is younger in his career and still has much to show.

Fedor Emelianenko has long been regarded the best fighter in MMA history, but Silva's accomplishments in the UFC could be radically eclipsing what has been regarded as the best résumé in the sport.  

The legacy of Fedor Emelianenko is important to diehard fans of mixed martial arts. He is still the best heavyweight in the history of the sport.  

In a new age of UFC prosperity, however, Emelianenko's accomplishments are slowly becoming less defensible.

Has Silva accomplished enough to be the best fighter in the history of the sport? Maybe.

If he can defeat Vitor Belfort this Saturday, it would certainly be hard to deny him that.