Anderson Silva
Template:MMAstatsbox Anderson Da Silva (April 14 1975-) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial arts fighter. He once was a member of the famed Chute Boxe fight team, but is now part of Muay Thai Dream Team. He has competed in PRIDE Fighting Championship, Shooto, and Cage Rage. He has beaten Hayato Sakurai, Carlos Newton, and Lee Murray. Anderson Silva is generally considered one of the top ten best fighters at 185 lb in MMA and is also thought to be one of the most technical strikers in the sport[citation needed]. He has signed a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and defeated Chris Leben by knockout 49 seconds into the first round in his June 2006 debut.
Career
Anderson Silva first fought in the Mecca organization in Brazil. Silva lost his first fight to Luiz Azeredo by decision. After that fight he went on a nine fight winning streak defeating six of those opponents within the distance. His first match in Japan was against Shooto Champion Hayato Sakurai. Silva was the first person to beat Sakurai and became the new Shooto welterweight champion.
In 2002, Silva began fighting in PRIDE Fighting Championship. In his first fight there he stopped Alex Steibling due to a cut from a high kick. In his next match he won a decision against the "Diet Butcher" Alexander Otsuka. At PRIDE 25 Silva faced Carlos Newton. Newton tried to shoot in on Silva and was hit with a flying knee from Silva. Newton collapsed and Silva finished the fight with strikes winning by TKO.
At PRIDE 26 Silva faced Daiju Takase. Considering his record at the time, (4-7-1), most predicted that Takase would not win. Surprisingly, Takase submitted Silva with a triangle choke in the first round.
After his loss to Takase, Silva fought in other promotions around the world. On June 27 2004 Silva fought Jeremy Horn. Silva won the match by decision, but Horn later said that he had pulled a groin muscle in the first round of that fight.
That year Silva began fighting in the Cage Rage promotion in England. At Cage Rage' 8' Silva fought and beat noted striker Lee Murray by decision.
A year after his loss to Takase, Silva returned to PRIDE on December 31 2004. His opponent was Ryo Chonan and most were shocked when Silva was submitted by a flying scissor heel hook.
After the loss to Chonan, Silva continued fighting in the Cage Rage promotion. He holds a perfect record in that organisation with only one of his fights going to the distance. Silva recently participated in the Rumble on the Rock 175 lb tournament in Hawaii. He lost his fight in the tournament when he kicked his oppoent, Yushin Okami, in the face from the guard who had both knees on the ground, which is an illegal move in that promotion, and was disqualified.
Anderson Silva defeated Chris Leben by knock-out at UFC Ultimate Fight Night 5 on June 28 2006 in 49 seconds during the first round with a flury of well connected punches and a final knee to the head.