With more than 40 appearances as a professional in MMA, Anderson Silva He has already fought several battles in the sport. In an established career, the athlete carries a resume with names like Vitor belfort, Forrest griffin, Daniel Cormier, Israel adesanya, Rich Franklin, among others, but none of these are for 'Spider' as the most notable challenge. In conversation with the press, with the participation of SUPER FIGHTS, the Brazilian cited his most important fight.
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“There are so many fights, and they were all important – each of them at their own moment. But the fight that really marked me the most was my first world title, with Hayato Sakurai, in Japan. It was the fight that most marked my life, my career, because it was the first time that I was representing my country, fighting abroad and winning my first belt”, explained the athlete.
Against Sakurai, in 2001, Anderson went to the opponent's country to try to win the Shooto middleweight belt. At the time, Hayato was the category champion and was undefeated in his career, with 20 contests played. In the duel, 'Spider' won the unanimous decision of the judges, taking the number one position from the Japanese.
From his coronation in Japan to his UFC debut it took almost five years. On June 28, 2006, 'Spider' would put on the gloves of the organization that would make him a worldwide phenomenon and recognized to this day as one of the greatest in history.
A fight after the brutal victory over Chris Leben, in his debut, Anderson officially proved to be a different athlete, when he defeated the then middleweight champion, Rich Franklin, at UFC 64.
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