UFC: 10 Opponents to Dethrone Anderson Silva

Anderson Silva is the pound-for-pound best MMA fighter in the world. The Brazilian seems unbeatable and pulls off more unorthodox wins than any other fighter, but he is still just another fighter.

Any fighter can be beat on any given night at any moment. One mistake, one slip, one second or punch can change the course of history in the sport. 

This list looks at the top 10 fighters that pose a threat to Silva. 

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No. 10: Michael Bisping

Bisping is the last conquest Anderson Silva is yet to achieve.

Silva has been dubbed with having cleaned out his division, which one can make an argument for. Others believe Bisping is the last test in the UFC of the opponents that have been in the division for some time.

It’s hard to completely clean out a division due to up-and-comers, mergers and fight schedules. But Bisping has remained in the shadows.While most certainly not the biggest threat to Silva, Bisping always comes to fight. He is a great striker and an ever-changing fighter since his days on the Ultimate Fighter.

Another factor is that by the time Bisping gets around to fighting Silva—provided he is still champion by then—is that Silva may very well be on the downside of his career, jumped weight classes or retired.

Due to the other potential matchups, not to mention he has to get through Jason Miller first, it may not every come to fruition anytime soon, but would make for an interesting dynamic and the final test of the current Middleweight champ. 

No. 9: Cung Le

Le poses his unique threat to Silva. With very precise and deadly strikes, he has already become a star without setting foot in the Octagon. His fights in Strikeforce have established his name and many are looking past the likes of Stann or Sonnen for a fight between Silva and Le.

A very good striker is always interesting to watch against Silva, since they are either going to be beaten dominantly or pull off strikes that Silva didn't see coming.

Cung Le’s kickboxing is at the top of its game and can quickly end a fight. As long as Silva doesn’t catch one of them a-la-Irvin style, Le poses one of the greater striking chances with Silva. 

No. 8: Ronaldo Souza

Souza recently lost his belt, but that doesn’t make him any less dangerous. Silva’s kryptonite has been against submissions; that’s exactly what Souza brings to the table.

With such a high-level submission artist, Silva is in danger the moment it goes to the ground. The test will be if Souza can get him on the ground in the first place. Demian Maia posed a similar problem, but fans and critics alike will hope that doesn’t repeat itself. 

No. 7: Josh Koscheck

Koscheck is not yet in the division, but has spoken of moving up to 185 in hopes to try his skills there. While distant from a title shot, he poses a very well-rounded set of skills to help him defeat Silva.

Anderson’s takedown defense is one of his non-dominant areas, and Koscheck is a great wrestler. With that he pairs great striking with KO power. Anderson’s chin was tested by Chael Sonnen, but not necessarily to the caliber of Koscheck.

With the reach difference, Koscheck would most certainly go for a takedown and work from there.

No. 6: Dan Henderson

Similar to Koscheck, Dan Henderson brings great wrestling power, along with the infamous "H-bomb."

Henderson also brings an advantage that only one other person has, and that is that he has handed the pound-for-pound king a lost round, and has fought him before. Given the two are not the exact same fighters, but that mystique of fighting him for the first time is gone.

Hendo is no stranger to a championship fight, and the pressure is much more alleviated than others. With the ability to knock anyone out and the ability to hold on to Silva, Hendo poses a great threat if he ends up dropping down again…as long as he works on his submission defense. 

No. 5: Brian Stann

Brian Stann is a well-rounded fighter with power in his shots. He is a warrior in and out of the cage and has the heart to take on any champion.

If he can win his fight against Sonnen, he makes a great statement toward a title shot.

Stann, besides Silva, is the only other person to knockout Chris Leben, who is known for his granite chin.

Stann may very well be the underdog, but like many other great fighters in the sport, that is when they truly shine. Stann is not one to take that camp lightly and would come into his fight very prepared.

Always humble and evolving, Stann is a threat to any opponent at 185. 

No. 4: Hector Lombard

Lombard is a very well-rounded finisher. He can knock you out or submit you on the ground. He is currently 30-2-1. He is the Bellator champion, and the recently crowned champion of the AFC. While not on the biggest stages, Lombard continues to win.

He has won his past 19 fights, which is phenomenal for any MMA fighter. He brings knockout power more than many middleweights, and poses probably one of the best matchups for Silva at 185.

A fighter who can end a fight wherever it goes is a description in both Silva and Lombard’s biography. 

No. 3: Chael Sonnen

Sonnen stirred the middleweight pot more than any other fighter since Silva joined the UFC. When he and Silva fought last, Sonnen was less than half a round away from pulling one of the of the biggest upsets in UFC history, before being submitted via Chael’s kryptonite, the Triangle.

Still, a rematch between the two has been on the forefront of fans’ minds.

Fans of Silva want to see Sonnen lose twice in a row to finally shut him up, while fans of Sonnen want to see Sonnen pull out a win. Sonnen has shown his wrestling ability and even some striking ability with Silva, but there are differences in their second meeting. They both have now fought each other, so the same success Sonnen found may not be present in the rematch.

Others can argue Sonnen’s TRT abuse as well as Silva’s rib injury, but in a rematch, Silva comes out with more of an advantage than their first meeting. Sonnen works hard and doesn’t stop working, which always poses a problem to his opponents. 

No. 2: Georges St. Pierre

The superfight everyone has been talking about for a long time. Putting the two best MMA fighters against each other on the biggest stage in the sport. It is truly the Pacquiao vs. Mayweather of MMA, but like the boxing parallel, it may never happen.

With the two facing other opponents, and GSP having to move up in weight, there are many factors that require time to set up this fight. It could happen, but with so many prerequisites, there is a lot riding against it.

GSP is arguably one of the biggest threats to Silva and anyone who competes in MMA. His unprecedented wrestling, ever-improving striking and ability to gameplan sets him miles ahead of other fighters in having a chance against Silva.

GSP is one of the most well-rounded fighters in the sport and on paper is the most dominant threat Silva will ever face in his career. If this fight comes to fruition, the odds makers are going to have to scratch their heads a little harder when thinking about this one. 

No. 1: Jon Jones

Jon Jones’ wins over Shogun and Rampage have now established him and verified some of the hype he has been getting. He still has much to do in his division and like GSP, this superfight may never happen. By the time Jones is ready to take it on, Silva may be doing something else completely.

Regardless, if they were to fight, Jones poses the best striking threats to Silva’s reign. His unorthodox striking and long reach make him a hard person to counter, which is where Silva has had much success. Jones is also a great wrestler, and as mentioned before, Silva’s wrestling has not been as shiny as his other areas of expertise.

Jones is the younger fighter and brings a great energy into the cage with him. When it comes to beating Silva at his own game, Jones is the leader of MMA fighters who can pull it off.