Anderson Silva: The longest-reigning champion in UFC history

• Anderson Silva is a Brazilian-American mixed martial artist and boxer who is known for being the longest-reigning champion in UFC history.
• Silva held the UFC Middleweight Championship for 2,457 days.
• He lost the championship on July 6, 2013, after suffering defeat at the hands of Chris Weidman.

Anderson Silva is a Brazilian-American mixed martial artist and boxer who is known for being the longest-reigning champion in UFC history.

Silva held the UFC Middleweight Championship for 2,457 days, proof that he is one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time.

Anderson Silva. Photo/ GamblingSites.net.

His reign started in 2006 and ended in 2013 and included a record 16 wins. The legend defeated all the opponents UFC placed in front of him in his title defence.

Anderson Silva lost the UFC Middleweight Championship on July 6, 2013, after suffering defeat at the hands of Chris Weidman.

His attempt to retrieve the championship in December of that year was not fruitful as Chris Weidman defeated him for the second time in his career.

Silva, the longest reigning champion in UFC, left the promotion in November 2020 and went back to boxing. UFC president Dana White and numerous MMA pundits have named Anderson Silva as one of the greatest mixed martial artists in history.

Early Life 

Anderson Silva was born to a poverty-stricken family in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on April 14, 1975. He spent the majority of his childhood with his uncle and aunt in Curitiba.

The future UFC champion began his martial arts journey as a child learning jiu-jitsu with other kids in the neighbourhood. During his teenage years, Anderson learnt Muay Thai, taekwondo and capoeira.

Anderson Silva was part of the famous Chute Box Academy. However, he parted ways with the academy because of an argument over payment. Antonio Rodrigo would later take him and begin training him.

Career 

Anderson Silva, the longest-reigning champion in UFC history, began his professional career in Brazil, fighting in the welterweight division.

He recorded two back-to-back wins before suffering his first defeat at the hands of Luiz Azeredo in 2000. Afterwards, the Brazilian fighter went on a nine-fight winning streak.

He won the Shooto Middleweight Championship in August 2001 after defeating the then-undefeated champion Hayato Sakurai.

Anderson Silva was to join the UFC in 2002 and face the then-current welterweight champion Matt Hughes at UFC 36. However, he ended up signing a contract with Pride Fighting Championships and started his run with three wins.

His first loss came while fighting Daiju Takase at Pride 26, something which made him consider quitting MMA. However, Antonio Rodrigo convinced him to continue fighting.

On September 11, 2004, Anderson Silva defeated Lee Murray at Cage Rage 8 to win the Cage Rage Middleweight Championship.

Silva later competed in Hawaii’s Rumble on the Rock Promotion but was later disqualified after kicking an opponent in the face while down. He was not aware of the rules of the fight.

In April 2006, the Brazilian fighter signed a contract with UFC and made his debut two months later, defeating Chris Leben.

Anderson Silva. Photo/ ESPN.

Viewers chose Silva’s next opponent via a poll, following which he fought Rich Franklin, the then UFC Middleweight Champion.

Silva won the fight via TKO in the first round, becoming the new UFC Middleweight Champion. And that was the beginning of him being the longest-reigning champion in UFC history.

The Brazilian successfully defended his title against top fighters like Vitor Belfort, Chael Sonnen and Yushin Okami.

He went on a 17-fight winning streak, which came to an end when he faced Chris Weidman on July 6, 2013. Anderson lost the fight, which took place at UFC 162, via KO in the second round. He suffered defeat in the rematch barely five months later.

Anderson Silva only won one of his next six fights, after which UFC released him from his contract in November 2020. The Brazilian had hinted after his last fight that his career in MMA was finished.

Anderson Silva returned to boxing and had his first fight on June 19, 2021, against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. He won the fight and also defeated Tito Ortiz three months later.

On October 29, 2022, Silva lost to Jake Paul at Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona. His professional boxing record is now 3-2. He had earlier boxed twice before fully dedicating his time to MMA.

Anderson Silva went back to boxing. Photo/ Bloody Elbow.