UFC legend Anderson Silva has fired back at his critics, who claim that he shouldn’t have been awarded a unanimous decision victory against Derek Brunson last weekend at UFC 208.
The 41 year-old former middleweight champion feels he’s being shown a lack of respect and in a lengthy Facebook page, which you can read in full below, he urged his detractors to remember who he is and what he’s accomplished in the sport before they open their mouths.
““Nowadays it’s easy to say that the fight is my root, there is a lot of people who talk about fighting and do not know what it says. So when you go up in the octagon, first look who I am, respect who got where I came from. I arrived very well, without disrespecting anyone, with much struggle and pride in the chest.
So, you who talk too much, find out first who I am and what I did in this sport.
Many people find me arrogant and overbearing? I can be it and more, not because I am considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. No, no, it’s my feats, that’s what I really did for this sport. I broke barriers all over the world where I fought, Pride, Shooto, Mecca and other events that these speakers have never heard of and do not know what they are like. I am from a different era, when had no weight limit or time limit. I really fought for passion, not for money or fame. Speakers and frustrated fighters, who read this text, I can be arrogant, arrogant and much more than that, I am Anderson Silva, who made and makes a difference in sports.
I’m not afraid and I do not flee fighting, I defended the belt for 10 years, none of the last champions managed to defend for more than 3 fights.
So thank you to all who like me and those who do not like me, they will have to accept that Anderson da Silva, The spider 🕷, is a fact and can not change. I’m the best in the world, yes! To the joy of many and the sorrow of others.
I can only say that we will soon see ourselves in the octagons of life.”
It’s been a rough few years for Silva, who had for many years appeared untouchable in the Octagon, but had not won a fight in over four years until Saturday night’s show.
The relief was palpable on his face when the decision was announced and he finally got back to winning ways, and though there were only glimmers of the fighter he once was against Brunson, he’s now defiantly claiming that he’s still the king of the hill in the UFC.
There will be no shortage of other fighters in the middleweight division who will be keen to show the No.7 ranked Silva that’s not the case however, so it’ll be interesting to see what the UFC has in store for the veteran star next.
