[Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports]
Anderson Silva wasn’t one of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s biggest pay-per-view draws despite a slew of highlight reel knockouts and a reputation as the finest mixed martial arts fighter in the world.
After Saturday’s performance, the toughest job in sports may belong to the person who has to devise a marketing campaign for his next fight.
Silva won a unanimous decision over Thales Leites in the main event of UFC 97 on Saturday night at the Bell Centre, but it was such a mystifying and dreadful performance that it left UFC president Dana White angry and embarrassed.
“I can honestly tell you that I’ve never put on an event that I was embarrassed to be at until tonight,” White said. “I want to publicly apologize to all the fans.”
Leites was flopping onto the ground at the first sign Silva would throw a punch at him, hoping to turn it into a grappling contest. Silva, though, wouldn’t fall for the bait and forced Leites repeatedly to stand.
And while it was admittedly hard to look good with the way Leites was fighting, the man who is supposedly the best fighter in the world needs to find a way to force the action.
Last night, when watching the event at a local watering hole, I commented to others that fans and pundits would be unduly harsh on Silva this morning, and I was right. The irony of this is that Silva, one of the most prolific champions in MMA history, is just the type of fighter that's likely to have a long-time reign. He doesn't get hit all that often, and he is very measured in his offense.
Prior MMA champions, especially in the UFC, were most likely to charge in full-bore without giving much thought to the offense that was being returned. As a result of this MMA history is rife with short-time champions 'getting caught' in flash knock-downs by inferior competitors. One need only look to the Matt Serra upset of George "Rush" St. Pierre as evidence of this. Silva, a methodical, slick counter-puncher more-closely resembling Floyd Mayweather than Mike Tyson, is a winner, but does not lend himself to fights that are fan-friendly.
That Thalos Leitas continually dropped to the ground, seeking to press his advantage, went almost unnoticed by the Canadian fans who, to be fair, were going to boo and heckle Silva regardless, in support of the aforementioned St. Pierre. (A Canadian, and the next probable opponent for Silva) Canadians after all are not known for being the most honest of sports fans in their cheering habits, often refusing to acknowledge good performances by fighters outside of their homeland. Americans are guilty of this as well, as are the Brazilians. The Japanese, alone amongst MMA fans, are the only group of fans that cheer for good performances regardless. Yes, they have their favorites, but they are savvy enough to realize when a guy is dogging it in the ring (or cage).
Dana White is angry, but Silva's next fight (if St. Pierre successfully defends his championship at UFC 99) should market itself. Depending on your preference St. Pierre and Silva are 1-2 in the debate for 'best pound for pound MMA fighter', that they may get a chance to tussle in the ring sets up MMA for a SuperFight for the ages, one they desperately need after a series of lack-luster performances.
The fight was bad, slow and plodding without much offense, but chastising Silva for this alone is missing the mark. He's exactly the type of fighter who's likely to reign as the champion for a long time. The question is: Does MMA really WANT that type of fighter in their system?
