Anderson Silva’s legendary title is Reign: The Spider’s Greatest Fights.

Anderson Silva, who goes by the nickname ‘The Spider’, is considered one of the best mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters of all time. His UFC middleweight title run from 2006 to 2013 consisted of some of the most amazing performances from an incredible striker with perhaps the highest fighting IQ of any champion in the company’s history. In this article, the focus is on outlining those fights that made Silva a true MMA legend.

Anderson Silva vs. Rich Franklin I (UFC 64)
The road to Silva’s legend began when he fought Rich Franklin for the UFC Middleweight Championship bout at UFC 64 on October 14, 2006. Franklin was a very strong fighter and one of the most durable fighters of his time, and many thought he would give Silva a tough fight. However, Silva beat Franklin with a perfect Muay Thai clinch and knees that made Franklin unable to continue the fight. Silva knocked out Franklin in the first round to become the new UFC middleweight champion and began a new chapter.

Anderson Silva vs. Nate Marquardt (UFC 73)
Following the victory to claim the title, Silva was scheduled to fight Nate Marquardt, a talented mixed martial artist proficient in grappling, at UFC 73 on July 7, 2007. Marquardt was said to be very tough, but Silva was proving to be a better striker and was keeping Marquardt at bay. The fight that Silva delivered was an imposing one, and he knocked Marquardt out with a TKO in the first round, thereby proving why he is the champion.

Anderson Silva vs. Rich Franklin II (UFC 77)
Both Silva and Franklin again faced each other in the UFC 77, October 20, 2007, rematch bout, which was much-awaited. This time Franklin was focused on regaining his title, but Silva’s striking was once again too strong. Brazilian fighter Silva dominated the combat with his grappling and precise punches; he knocked out Franklin in the second round for his second TKO win. This victory provided more evidence that Silva was unbeatable in the middleweight division.

Anderson Silva vs. Dan Henderson (UFC 82)
Perhaps Silva’s most difficult fight that saw him pushed to the ropes was against Dan Henderson at UFC 82 on March 1, 2008. Henderson is a former Pride FC champion fighter with considerable wrestling and knockout abilities. This bout was promoted as the battle of styles, where Henderson, who is a wrestler, would face off with Silva, who is a striker. In the first round, Henderson succeeded in taking Silva down and dominating him. But in the second round, Silva was more cautious, and getting inside Henderson’s range, he started to strike him and finished him off with a rear-naked choke to win the bout by submission. This win demonstrated that Silva could adapt himself in the match and could come back from a poor start.

Anderson Silva vs. James Irvin (UFC Fight Night 14)
Then on July 19, 2008, Silva stepped up a weight class to light heavyweight to face James Irvin at UFC Fight Night 14. This fight proved that Silva is ready to challenge himself with new opponents and his abilities in different weight divisions. Silva didn’t waste much time finishing Irvin with a right hand that sent him to the canvas; this proved that his striking was as good at the higher weight division. This victory can be said to have contributed to the construction of myths around Silva and the fearlessness that he exhibited.

Anderson Silva vs. Patrick Côte (UFC 90)
Another one of Silva’s bouts that wasn’t decided by a knockout was against Patrick Côté on October 25, 2008, in the UFC 90 event. Silva showcased his strategy; he was able to counter Côté on numerous occasions with the specific punches and the right footwork. However, the bout did not reach a conclusion when Côté injured his knee in the third round and the fight was stopped, thus giving Silva a TKO win. While the fight may have ended in a lackluster fashion, Silva clearly had the better of the fight for much of the contest.

Anderson Silva vs. Forrest Griffin (UFC 101)
Silva had his best win at UFC 101, which was held on August 8, 2009, when he fought against former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin. Griffin was given the beating of his life by Silva in the striking clinic, which showcased Silva’s precision, impeccable timing, and movement. Griffin could not touch Silva, who moved frequently and replied with counterpunches that sent Griffin to the canvas repeatedly before depositing him there after a jab. The fight showed how Silva possesses probably the most fierce striking attack in the UFC and goes down in the history of the organization.

Anderson Silva vs. Demian Maia fight (UFC 112)
Silva was next scheduled to fight Demian Maia on April 10, 2010 at the UFC 112 event. This fight was also criticized because of Silva’s particular behavior during the fight. Silva used kicking and punching in the first few rounds, but later changed his tactic and decided to use a lot of movement and taunt his opponent and fans. Although the fight was quite contentious, the judges scored it in favor of Silva, and he kept the belt. This bout also highlighted Silva’s dominance in terms of being able to set the pace and tempo of the fight regardless of the conventional norms of MMA.

Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen I (UFC 117)
The most challenging match in Silva’s career was the one with Chael Sonnen on August 7, 2010 at UFC 117. Sonnen, an opponent who had relentless wrestling and a very good ground-n-pound, outclassed Silva for 4 and a half rounds and took him down almost every time that he got in the clinch. But Silva showed a huge heart and chin and submitted Sonnen in the triangle armbar in the last moments of the fifth round. It would also not be out of place to mention that one of the most exciting fights in the UFC was Silva’s defant win against Sonnen in their rematch, which redefined championship spirit and showed how a fighter can totally turn the heat against an opponent when the pressure is on.

Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort (UFC 126)
Silva’s next fight was with another Brazilian explosive striker, Vitor Belfort, on February 5 at UFC 126. The match was expected to be one of the most interesting ones, and Silva provided one of the most amazing knockouts in UFC history. In the first round, Silva kicked Belfort onto the canvas with a front kick to the face, and Belfort was out. This sensational knockout, which people came to know as the ‘front kick heard around the world, enhanced Silva’s reputation as a striking phenomenon and propelled him to even greater heights of stardom.

Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami (UFC 134)
Silva’s second fight against Yushin Okami at UFC 134 on August 27, 2011 was an opportunity for Silva to get revenge, which they met in 2006 when Silva was disqualified. Silva was able to control the match from the start and determinedly took Okami out with strikes. Silva, therefore, brought the fight to a close after knocking down his opponent in the second round, thus illustrating his metamorphosis into a better fighter and his capacity to compensate for his sins.

Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II (UFC 148)
Silva and Sonnen engaged in an eventful matchup at UFC 148 on July 7, 2012. The fight was considered one of the most anticipated in the history of the UFC. This made Sonnen’s trash talk and their earlier confrontation all the more exciting. Sonnen began the fight well and took Silva down in the first round; however, Silva did not get flustered. In the second, these two traded blows, with Silva inevitably getting in a knee to the body of Sonnen, which was followed by numerous punches, resulting in a TKO win. This fight also demonstrated how calm Silva is when it comes to his fights and how dangerous he is when it comes to his striking game.

Anderson Silva vs. Stephan Bonnar (UFC 153)
On October 13, 2012, the Brazilian Silva moved back to the light-heavyweight division to fight Stephan Bonnar at UFC 153. This was a performance of power and authority in the tactics used by Silva. Silva taunted Bonnar, standing against the cage and asking for a punch to throw a counterpunch back. The fight ended with the final strike—a knee to Bonnar’s solar plexus—and then Silva delivered ground-and-pound until the fight was stopped. This fight revealed the side of Silva that is more flamboyant and aggressive, as well as his desire to knock out his opponents.

Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman (UFC 162)
It was quite a legendary title run for Silva, which ended abruptly on July 6, 2013 at the UFC 162 fight against Chris Weidman. However, Silva, who is famous for his flamboyant approach, including his tendency to show off at the slightest opportunity, suffered the consequences of arrogance. Silva was hit with a left hook by Weidman in the second round, and this left him out cold; thus, Weidman dethroned the champion who had been reigning for seven years. This fight can be considered a turning point in Silva’s career, and it proved that even the best athletes are humans.

Anderson Silva’s record-setting reign as UFC middleweight champion is one of the true testaments to the brilliance of this man, his durability, and his dynamism as a mixed martial artist. His success at finishing fights, changing the style of strike depending on the opponent, and coming through triumphantly after receiving a test made him one of the best MMA fighters in history. The ultimate ones, Silva’s spectacular knockout of Rich Franklin and his stunning return against Chael Sonnen, will be retold and admired in the history of MMA for decades to come, inspiring new generations of athletes and enthusiasts.