Caged Spider: The 25 Best Photos of Anderson Silva from Around the Web

Anderson Silva is the kind of fighter that comes by only once in a lifetime.

He went from being an exciting journeyman competing in promotions all across the globe, to finding a home in the UFC and becoming the most dominant champion it has ever seen.

UFC President Dana White recently called Anderson "the greatest fighter in MMA history".

With unparalleled movement and creativity, commentator Joe Rogan famously dubbed Silva's fights a "ballet of violence."

His speed is often on another level than his opponents, again compelling Rogan to say, "It's like he's moving inside the Matrix."

When Anderson Silva fights, you never know what is going to happen, but chances are it is going to be something you have never seen prior.

Later this summer Silva will defending his belt yet again, this time in his home country of Brazil and against probably the best Japanese fighter currently competing in MMA—Yushin Okami.

Here are the top 25 photos of Anderson Silva from around the web.

Putting the Pressure

Anderson Silva backs Thales Leites up with kicks in his title defense at UFC 97.

War of Champions

Silva proves superior yet again as he beats down former champion Rich Franklin for a second time. This time at UFC 77.

Only One Champion

Nate "The Great" Marquardt has a long and storied career of over 40 fights, but here we see him suffer the only knock out loss of his career- at the hands of Anderson Silva.

Wearing the Mask

Fellow Brazilian legend Vitor Belfort suggested Anderson Silva sometimes wears a mask in front of the media.

Silva got in his face during the weigh-ins to say he does not take to kindly to off-handed remarks.

Sizing Up

For the first minute of their fight, Silva sized James Irvin up before going in for the embarrassing beatdown.

Confounded

Thales Leites was able to disrupt Silva's game, but his incessant flopping certainly did not help him towards victory. 

Defense and Angles

Silva received criticism for "allowing" durable striker Patrick Cote to last more than two rounds with him.

News to Him

At UFC 101 Silva is surprised to find that he is the villain following UFC 97's fight against Thales Leites.

Taunting

Never before had MMA seen as much taunting as Silva did against challenger Demian Maia at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi.

Another First

A legend with 35 professional fights, Dan Henderson has only ever been choked out by Anderson Silva.

Henderson's only two other submission losses, armbars, are to Silva's Jiu-Jitsu masters- the Nogueira brothers.

Disdain

Even against former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin, Silva is upset to have to defend oncoming strikes. 

Reflexes

Silva angles off and watches Griffin's strikes come in "bullet time".

Domination

Silva crushes James Irvin in the first round during his first experimentation with the 205-lb division.

Dangerous Everywhere

It was supposed to be his first title defense but Travis Lutter did not make weight.

In the second round Silva submitted the talented Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace. (WTF Lutter'd)

Laser Beam Strikes

Silva flies in with a devastating straight left from range.

Jubilation

Anderson Silva feels back on top of the world after his ridiculous dismantling of Forrest Griffin.

Front Kick Foreshadow

Silva punishes Dan Henderson with several stiff front kicks to the neck.

Navigate the Trenches

Anderson Silva wades into Rich Franklin's barrage of strikes in order to tear him down and claim the UFC middleweight championship.

Ground and Pound

Silva plays Leites' game for a while just to deliver some good punishment.

Flying Knee

Anderson Silva launches a flying knee strike and manages to connect against a mobile Demian Maia.

Back Kick

Anderson Silva keeps Rich Franklin weary and wary.

No Lost Step

Anderson Silva finds himself in as good of form as ever by crushing Vitor Belfort with a jaw-dropping front kick at UFC 126.

Justice

Fighting through an injured rib, Anderson Silva finds victory in the remaining moments of his title fight against rival and consensus No.2 middleweight Chael Sonnen.

It might be the greatest come from behind victory in the history of MMA.

Silva Celebrates

Anderson "The Spider" Silva has climbed to the top of the MMA world.

Martial Arts Master

His media personality is enigmatic, to say the least, but Silva is without a doubt one of the greatest fighters of this or any generation.