WATCH: The Difference Between Anderson Silva at His Prime and in His Retirement Fight

UFC middleweight GOAT Anderson Silva recently stepped away from the UFC’s cage at UFC Vegas 12 on October 31, 2020. Chiefly, MMA and Boxing Journalist Chisanga Malata shared a thoughtful Twitter post that reflected the journey of Anderson Silva’s career. The video grab is a side-by-side comparison to Silva’s win over Forrest Griffin and his TKO loss to Uriah Hall.

‘The Spider’ looked somewhat untouchable in his prime, and he exhibited this elusiveness in good measure against Griffin. Many fans believe that this was Anderson Silva at the very top of his game. In stark contrast is the final fight of his UFC run that saw him fall in a way he had ripped through his opposition.

The Brazilian icon certainly remained a competitive fighter despite the fact that he’s pushing 46. His contemporaries from his era have either suffered dramatic falls from grace or have retired from MMA. Anderson has shown that he can still hang with anyone. However, the physical faculties that made him great have slipped away.

He no longer possesses the same durability or elusiveness that made him the legendary champion that fans once knew him as.

Anderson Silva: A Legacy defined

‘The Spider’ may have lost a majority of his fight as of late, however, fans have enjoyed seeing sparks of his old self. Not to mention the fact that he’s competing against some of the best 185-pounders even though he’s 45-years-old. He’d come exceedingly close to toppling some of the best champions the UFC had who were in their prime.

Additionally, the legendary Brazilian striker will also be known for his willingness to take on all comers. He cleaned out the welterweight division and also captured marquee wins at light heavyweight. His short-notice bout against Daniel Cormier at UFC 200 truly encapsulated his ‘Anytime- Anywhere-Anyone’ mentality.

Despite his competence, fans of the sport and UFC President Dana White believe that it’s time for Silva to retire. He doesn’t have much else to prove in the sport and still holds records to this day.