Anderson is a professional MMA fighter from Brazil who is signed with UFC. He is known to have the longest title reign in UFC history as UFC Middleweight Champion which started in 2006 and ended in 2013.
Personal Life of Anderson Silva
Anderson was born on April 14, 1975, in São Paulo, Brazil, with the full name Anderson da Silva.
Anderson’s family was unable to afford jiu-jitsu lessons so he started learning the sport by watching neighborhood kids fight and later on started practicing with them. Eventually, he was able to get training in Muay Thai, taekwondo, and capoeira.
Anderson is married to his wife, Dayane and they have five children together.
Anderson Silva Net Worth and Career Path to UFC Champion
Anderson’s professional career started in 1997. Anderson lost his first match but he bounced back with a nine-win streak after.
Anderson gained fame as the first fighter to beat Japanese fighter Hayato Sakurai. This victory opened doors for him in the Pride Fighting Championships, where he got three wins from 2002 to 2003.
At Pride 26, he lost to Daiju Takase, who was considered to be the underdog in their match. After this loss, Anderson thought about quitting MMA.
In 2003, Anderson joined Cage Rage where he won a match against Lee Murray in London.
In 2006, Anderson signed with UFC and in his debut fight, he won against Chris Leben within just 49 seconds into the first round via knockout.
Anderson defended the middleweight title against fighters such as Yushin Okami, Vitor Belfort, and Chael Sonnen. Anderson’s win streak ended when he lost to Stephan Bonnar in 2012.
In a 2012 match against Chris Weidman, Anderson suffered serious fractures on his leg that required extensive surgery and took months to heal.
Anderson’s MMA career also had its dark days. He was replaced as one of the coaches in “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4” because he failed the drug test.
In 2015, Anderson’s victory against Nick Diaz was taken back as it was discovered that Anderson tested positive for steroids. This got Anderson suspended for a year.
After the suspension, Anderson lost his Middleweight title to Michael Bisping and his light heavyweight title to Daniel Cormier.
Anderson is considered to be one of the best strikers in UFC and he is known for his uncanny ability to dodge most of his opponent’s strikes.
As of 2020, Anderson Silva net worth is estimated to be about $18 million.
Highlights
- UFC Middleweight Champion
- Longest title reign in UFC history (2,457 days)
Favorite Quotes
“Life is about how much you can take and keep fighting, how much you can suffer and keep moving forward.” – Anderson Silva
“I’ve already done everything there is to do. Now it’s just a matter of doing what I love to do.” – Anderson Silva
“My losses and my victories are in the past. I think of the future. After a fight is over, it’s in the past. I always have to go back to the gym and train to improve in all areas, winning or losing. I think I can always do better next time.” – Anderson Silva
“Not only in the Octagon but also in life, sometimes I have to take two steps back to take one step forward.” – Anderson Silva
Advice About Being an MMA Fighter
After reading about Anderson Silva net worth and his success in becoming a UFC champion, here are some of his lessons to take away from:
Respect is important
Anderson has often mentioned in his interviews how much he respects his opponents and the sport. It is clear how much Anderson values respects and at times, he even demands it from those who do not respect what he does. It is common to think that respect should be earned first but the world would be a better place if it is automatically given that everyone deserves respect until proven otherwise.
There is always room for improvement
Whether he wins or loses, Anderson still shows up in the gym and train hard to improve his game. Anderson knows that he can still do better and does not let his victories make him feel that he has already made it as a fighter. Anderson loves the preparation stage and learning new things and techniques. It is Anderson’s aim to always overcome himself.
Always be grateful
Anderson was able to do his training with many trainers and he always expresses his respect and gratefulness by mentioning all the trainers that helped him become the fighter that he is now.
Summary
Anderson Silva is considered to be one of the best MMA fighters in the world. Anderson’s ability to hold many records and titles and shift from one weight to another makes him one of the greatest fighters in the industry.
As of 2020, Anderson Silva has an estimated net worth of $18 million.