| Most UFC fans had their first introduction to Anderson | | | | notice of Anderson Silva was when he brought Carlos |
| "The Spider" Silva when he knocked out Chris Leben | | | | Newton to the ground with a flying knee, not unlike the |
| on UFC's Ultimate Fight Night in June of 2006. Chris | | | | one given to Leben. At the time, Carlos Newton was |
| Leben was, and is, considered a durable striker with a | | | | thought to be one of the best fighters in the world. |
| great chin. Leben came straight at Silva and paid the | | | | That was 2003. |
| price when Silva landed a couple of crisp punches, | | | | Anderson Silva is no newcomer to Mixed Martial Arts, |
| followed by a devastating knee to Leben's head. | | | | he is a seasoned veteran. He's beaten people standing |
| The victory was so devastating and so one sided that | | | | up and on the ground. He is deceptively strong and the |
| UFC president Dana White immediately gave Silva a | | | | only word to describe his striking is "amazing". I once |
| shot at Rich Franklin's middleweight belt. I think most | | | | saw him knock out an opponent with an uppercut |
| UFC fans thought that even with a decisive victory | | | | elbow. Just try that yourself and ask yourself this, how |
| over Leben that Franklin's experience and strength | | | | do you get close enough to a guy to throw that and |
| would be enough to counter Silva's obvious striking | | | | how do you throw it hard enough to knock the other |
| ability. | | | | guy out. Amazing! |
| Most UFC fans would have been incorrect. Silva's | | | | On the other hand Travis Lutter is an excellent |
| work from the clinch was unbelievable. He literally held | | | | submission specialist, but who has he submitted? He |
| the back of Franklin's head for 2 minutes while he | | | | certainly defeated Patrick Cote easily in the Ultimate |
| repeatedly kneed Franklin to the body. When Franklin | | | | Fighter Final. But other than that, his victories don't |
| went to protect his now bruised torso, Silva went to | | | | come over top notch guys. You could argue that his |
| the head landing a couple of hard knees. It was those | | | | victory over Marvin Eastman, who is facing Rampage |
| knees which broke Franklin's nose and won Silva the | | | | Jackson on the same card, was against a top notch |
| fight. | | | | guy. However, I would argue that Marvin Eastman also |
| So, now Anderson Silva must face Ultimate Fighter | | | | hasn't won a big fight in a while. At least not against |
| season 4 winner Travis Lutter on February 3rd, 2007. | | | | UFC level competition. |
| Even though he took out the champion and a highly | | | | I believe that Anderson Silva will come out of this one |
| regarded contender, some people still have their | | | | with a victory. He has holes in his game, but it might |
| doubts. Unlike many UFC fans, I also have followed the | | | | take a newly motivated Rich Franklin to exploit them. I |
| Pride organization for many years. The first time I took | | | | don't think Travis Lutter is ready. |