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“When He Lit Up Chris Leben” – Joe Rogan Reveals Iconic Anderson Silva Moment That Changed His Perception of Striking

Published 02/11/2023, 2:45 PM EST

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Earlier in his career, UFC legend Anderson Silva had left commentator Joe Rogan in awe of him. The former Fear Factor host Joe Rogan is deeply embedded in UFC and MMA for decades. He began his journey in MMA even before. He has a black belt in both Taekwondo and Jiu-Jitsu. Thus, he is well aware of the world of MMA and its disciplines. Furthermore, he is around the best MMA fighters all the time.

Anderson Silva was a veritable force to be reckoned with when he first burst onto the UFC scene. Winning his first 16 fights in spectacular fashion, ‘The Spider’ quickly established himself as a dominant force in the division. This impressive feat caught the eye of Joe Rogan, who was left in awe of Silva‘s skills. However, recently ‘The Spider’ reveals how boxing is more difficult than MMA.

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In a recent episode of the JRE podcast, Joe Rogan sat down with the new UFC light heavyweight champion, Jamahal Hill. The two discussed their thoughts on Silva‘s incredible career and reminisced about the impact he had in the world of MMA. They both agree that Silva was an incredible fighter and a true inspiration to many in the sport.

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Joe Rogan reflects on Anderson Silva

In the JRE MMA episode #136, Joe Rogan and Jamahal Hill delved into the topic of the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) in the UFC. Although Rogan acknowledges Jon Jones as one of the greatest fighters due to his impressive record, he just can’t look past Anderson Silva. He highlights how Silva‘s striking was sublime earlier in his career and how it had the entire division on edge.

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Rogan describes Silva as a magician in the Octagon, with an unstoppable aura that was almost mythical. After watching Silva‘s fights against Chris Leben and Forrest Griffin, the 55-year-old said, “When he lit up Chris Leben. I was like, oh boy! Everybody’s fu*ked, everybody in this division is fu*ked.

The former Fear Factor host has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the world of MMA. Thus it’s impressive that Anderson Silva has left a lasting impression on him. His recollection of Silva‘s early career highlights just how impressive and dominant the former UFC middleweight champion was in his prime.

A game changer in striking: how Silva shocked the world

The 55-year-old spoke about how Anderson Silva changed the perception of striking in the UFC. According to Rogan, ‘The Spider’s striking was on a different level in comparison to other fighters at the time.

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He recalls feeling awe-struck when he first saw Silva enter the sport. Additionally, how it altered everyone’s idea of what was possible with striking. He said, “It was just one of those times where it was like you saw a guy who was like total next level.

The new UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill, who joined Rogan in the latest episode of his podcast, seemingly agreed with his thoughts on Anderson Silva. Hill says that Silva‘s impact on the sport was 100% real for him and that his legacy continues to inspire and influence new generations of fighters.

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What do you think of Anderson Silva? Let us know in the comments below.

Watch this story: MMA News Round-up: Rogan Shares His Post-Divorce Plans, Dana White Speaks Out About His Personal Life, Nate Diaz Exposes the Paul Family

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Written by:

Himakshu Vyas

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Himakshu Vyas is a Combat Sports author at Essentiallysports. He is passionate about sports, with soccer and MMA being the sports he is most involved in. Aside from that, he follows the global soccer scene.
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Edited by:

Vineet Nandwana