'Bigger than the idol?'; What will it take for Israel Adesanya to surpass Anderson Silva in the history of the middleweight division?

A. Silva (right) and I. Adesanya (left) faced each other at UFC 234. Photo: Reproduction/Youtube ufc

For each successful belt defense of Israel adesanya in the middleweight division (up to 83,9kg), comparisons with your idol Anderson Silva progressively increase. However, even though he is a dominant champion like 'Spider, has the Nigerian already surpassed the Brazilian as the greatest of all in the history of the category? To discuss this issue, each team member SUPER FIGHTS gave his opinion on the 'thorny' topic.

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VH Gonzaga, writer and reporter for SUPER LUTAS

“There is a long way to go, with a capital 'M'. Israel adesanya He has a genuine talent for martial arts and, without a shadow of a doubt, is a great reference in the transition from kickboxing to MMA. However, his latest performances, despite being consistent, do not convince me that the Nigerian will achieve the hegemony of Anderson Silva.
At his best, Anderson was cold, calculating, spectacular. The athlete, as he said Yoel romero after his defeat in the fearful 'fight' against Adesanya, 'the Coliseum stopped'.
In addition to being a magician in the octagon, 'Spider' built a UFC middleweight reign that was difficult to surpass. There were 10 belt defenses, a mark that no other has come close to in the almost 10 years that have passed since he lost the title.
A self-confessed fan of Anderson, Adesanya, who has been compared to the Brazilian legend, is not excited. His last big performance came in the knockout against Paulo borrachinha, in 2020. After that, just occasional victories.
Israel has the talent, the intelligence, the malice. However, the combination for success slows down and reduces the Nigerian's achievements when compared to what Silva did at his peak. Anyway, 'Izzy' needs to 'work hard' to sit at the table of MMA legends.”

Fernando Keller, writer and reporter for SUPER LUTAS

“In my opinion, there is still a long way to go for there to even be a conversation. In addition to the still very distant numbers, Anderson Silva He’s one of the greatest of all time because of the shows he put on in the Octagon, something Adesanya hasn’t done since he won the belt.”

Igor Ribeiro, writer and reporter for SUPER LUTAS

"Israel adesanya has a long way to go before it can be compared with Anderson Silva, in my opinion. He did not achieve the number of belt victories and, as time passes, he has become an increasingly pragmatic fighter. Except for the fight against Borrachinha, all other defenses didn't have as much impact and were decided by points, without a clear shine from the champion. To weigh up his legacy as the middleweight 'GOAT', he still needs to adjust his game and mentality. Today, he is far behind what 'Spider' already did.”

Gabriel Fareli, writer and reporter for SUPER LUTAS

“I believe that the name of Israel adesanya is already in the history of the middleweight division, however, at most, as a top-3 in the category. The position of 'GOAT' of the group up to 83,9kg is Anderson Silva and that is unlikely to change one day. In addition to 10 belt defenses, few champions, including those from other divisions, managed to combine performance and results as brilliantly as the Brazilian. The way in which the 'Spider' beat most of his rivals during his reign was so impactful that it is cited even by younger fighters as inspiration for the beginning of their careers. In his last fights, 'Izzy' has become a pragmatic fighter, who doesn't 'fill the eyes' of MMA fans who follow his fights. It will be difficult for someone one day to take this position from Anderson Silva".

It's worth remembering that Anderson and Adesanya have already met in the Ultimate Octagon. The two athletes starred in UFC 234, which took place in February 2019. The show was held in Melbourne, Australia (AUS). On that occasion, the Nigerian won the unanimous decision of the judges.

With or without the 'GOAT' title, Israel adesanya will be defending his belt for the fifth time. Middleweight champion since October 2019, the Nigerian will face the North American Jared Cannonier in the main fight of UFC 276, which will take place next Saturday (02). The show will be held at the T-Mobile Arena, in Las Vegas (USA).