SPECIAL: Before his fame, Anderson Silva stood out for his determination and good humor

Anderson (center) stayed at Chute Boxe until 2002. Photo: Reproduction

Perhaps it is unthinkable today that Anderson Silva who has already walked the streets without being recognized, who could go to the shopping center without causing an uproar or even who was recognized for another skill than that shown with gloves inside an MMA ring. But Spider's life was like that from 2006 onwards, when he hadn't yet debuted in the UFC.

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On the eve of the return of Anderson Silva to the octagon, which in front of Nick Diaz next Saturday (31), one year and one month after the serious fracture suffered by the former champion, the SUPER FIGHTS profiled Spider before he became famous, in a chat with former fighter Cristiano Marcello, Anderson's teammate for two years at Chute Boxe in Curitiba (PR).

According to Cristano, despite not yet having the same prominence as other names in the academy at that time, such as the PRIDE champion Wanderlei Silva, Anderson already stood out, especially for his dedication. “Anderson was super dedicated as an athlete and as a student. Very intelligent and always asked questions. While everyone after training took a shower and went home, he either came to answer questions or grabbed a mattress to kick or a gauntlet. He always did something extra. If he saw that the desire to be what he is today was immense,” he said.

Anderson alongside C. Marcello. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook

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In addition to his willpower, Anderson also stood out for another characteristic: his sense of humor. According to Cristiano, who also played for PRIDE and ended his career in the UFC, Spider always had a playful profile and entertained his teammates, especially with his imitations. “He was always a very funny guy and always imitated others perfectly. And he entertained the crowd by imitating others, the crowd's way. He had this habit. The guy was a figure…”, he recalled.

Now leader of his own team, CM System, Cristiano debuted in the sport on the same night as Anderson and recalled the first edition of the “Brazilian Freestyle Circuit” tournament, in which both won two fights on the same card. “I had my first contact with Anderson in this tournament, he faced my cousin, Fabrício Morango (also a former UFC fighter). (…) There were two fights on the same night. At the time, it was a battle of styles. We were told that he was a striking guy, but in the end he was already very complete and had finished his first opponent. We saw him there and then, in the final, he fought and beat Morango. They fought a war, but he proved to be a very complete guy”, he analyzed.

Check out Cristiano Marcello's chat with SUPER FIGHTS:

After hanging up his gloves, C. Marcello (front) now runs the CM System gym. Photo: Reproduction

Super Fights: When did you and Anderson meet?

Cristiano Marcelo: Well, Anderson and I met in 2000, when I arrived in Curitiba to train at Chute Boxe. I had the opportunity to live with him, train him and train with him for two years, until he left Chute Boxe. Ah, sorry, before that I already had my first contact with him in this tournament (Brazilian Freestyle Circuit), when I debuted and he debuted in MMA, he fought against my cousin Fabrício Morango and that was my first contact with him. Then yes, soon after, in 2000, we met again at Chute Boxe, which was basically when I had direct contact with him.

SL: What was he like in his daily life before he became world famous and what was his life like at the gym?

CM: Anderson was super dedicated as an athlete and as a student. Very intelligent and always asked questions. His hunger to learn was insatiable. While everyone after training took a shower and went home, he either came to answer questions or got a mattress to kick or a mat to kick, a gauntlet to dodge or a ball to dodge. He always did something extra. If he saw that the desire to be what he is today was immense.

Anderson (right) alongside his Chute Boxe teammates, a team led by Rudimar Fedrigo (center). Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

SL: At the time of PRIDE, other fighters were the biggest names in Chute Boxe and Anderson went through some difficult times in Japan, did you already realize that he could become the phenomenon he ended up becoming?

CM: At the time, it was more Pelé (Landi), Assuério (Silva), Wanderlei (Silva)... They were the guys who were in PRIDE. But even so, you could always see that he had a lot of talent. This was notorious. So much so that he arrived, he went to Japan and had two excellent fights there. He caught Alex Stiebling, who was lining up everything that was Brazilian, and went there, opened the guy's face and knocked him out. Then he got Carlos Newton, who is an excellent guy, then he also had (Alexander) Otsuka. My brother, he lined up a bunch of people... It was obvious that he had a lot of potential and could definitely arrive. And that was fighting in the 93 kg category, because he didn't have the 84 kg category. At the time he was only 93 kg and heavy weight.

SL: Was there any quirk, habit or custom that Anderson had at that time that was remarkable to those of you who lived with him? Something that you remember to this day.

CM: He was always a very funny guy and always imitated others perfectly. And he entertained the crowd by imitating others, the crowd's way. He had this habit. The guy was a figure…

Anderson in a photo from the time with his family. Photo: Reproduction

SL: You and Anderson debuted together in MMA, in a tournament in 97. What was that day like and how do you remember your participation?

CM: I do remember. There were two fights on the same night. At the time, it was a battle of styles. We had been told that he was a striking guy, but at the end of the day he was already very complete, had a good ground game and had even submitted his first opponent. We saw him there and then, in the final, he fought and beat Morango. They fought a war, but he turned out to be a very complete guy. So, I had his memory. And what impressed me is that he was a really good guy. Because in the past what you saw were guys from Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo and he appeared there, and he appeared very well.

SL: Today he remains linked to the sport, but in the administration of CM System, in a different routine than Anderson, who continues to be active and fighting. Despite these differences, do you still keep in touch? Did you have the opportunity to talk to him before this fight against the Nick Diaz?

CM: So, in this world, we end up having a lot of contact with people on a daily basis when we work together, at the same gym. Anderson's life took one direction and mine took another, despite us being in the same environment. And although we even fought in the same event, the UFC, I don't have much contact with him nowadays. From time to time I meet people linked to him, like Joinha (Jorge Guimarães, businessman), who is a close friend of mine, so we always exchange ideas about it. And it's difficult today to be in the middle of MMA and not talk about Anderson, who is an opinion leader, the top of the food chain within the sport. But he's a guy I always root for, having followed his beginnings, knowing his life story. I'm very happy that he got to where he is, it's because he really deserved it. Of course, no one gets anywhere alone, but most of it was done by himself. The last time we spoke in person was when we fought together at UFC Rio 3 (in October 2012), but he's a guy I always support, regardless of whether we're living together on a daily basis or not. I hope that his return will be a success, because nowadays his responsibility is not just for himself or those around him, it is for an entire sport. He is an icon and his victory is the victory of the sport. So, I hope he turns things around... Comes back, no, he doesn't need that anymore. But I hope he goes there and does his job in the best way possible.

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