Under the Microscope: Analyzing Light Heavyweight Greats

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Wanderlei Silva

* Light Heavyweight Record: 23-6
* Opponent Winning Percentage: .633
* Longest Winning Streak: 8
* Record in Major Light Heavyweight Title Fights: 6-2
* Finish Percentage: 74
* Finished Percentage: 50
* Notable Victories: Guy Mezger, Dan Henderson, Kazushi Sakuraba (thrice), Quinton Jackson (twice), Ricardo Arona, Keith Jardine, Brian Stann
* Career Accomplishments: Four-time UFC “Performance of the Night” winner at 205 pounds; Pride middleweight champion, with four successful title defenses; 2003 Pride middleweight grand prix winner; first fighter to win a Pride championship and grand prix; record-holder for most wins in Pride history, longest undefeated streak in Pride history, most knockout-technical knockout wins in Pride history and most title defenses in Pride history

CASE FOR: Violence personified, “The Axe Murderer” boasts one of the most appropriate nicknames in the entirety of the sport. Known for his recklessly brutal muay Thai, Silva ran roughshod over the Pride middleweight division, averting defeat at 205 pounds for nearly six years. No one has been more intimidating than Silva in his Pride days, as he tore through the field one knee to the face at a time. Beyond the sheer devastation of his striking, which left opponents in crumpled heaps more often than not, Silva was symbolic of the major rift in the sport at the time, the ultimate confound to the UFC’s claim to having the best fighters in the world. Menacing to those who stood across him in the ring, Silva was equally threatening to Pride’s rival organization across the ocean, each consecutive win a wild hook to the ribs of the UFC’s legitimacy. To this day, few fighters are anticipated with the fanfare, adulation or bated breath that a Silva fight garners, and with the hardware and historical significance to match, even fewer would disagree to Silva’s G.O.A.T. status. At least, not to his face.

CASE AGAINST: The problem with Silva’s GOAT claim is simple: His record is loaded with overmatched scrubs who served no other purpose than to showcase his ruthlessness. Case in point: Silva comfortably takes the prize for the weakest opposition, statistically, of anyone on this list. There are some impressive names strewn about, sure, but for every one respectable name, there are two tomato cans. On top of that, his 4-5 mark in the UFC does not do him any favors, especially with the abundance of steroid allegations in the notoriously unregulated Pride Fighting Championships. Having a sub-.500 record in the UFC is one thing, but to never even be near the title picture -- and to lose convincingly to longtime foil Chuck Liddell -- in the most competitive circuit of fighters to date? That is the nail in the coffin for “The Axe Murderer.” He will always be a fan favorite, and his highlight reels are among the most entertaining ever, but when it comes to being the G.O.A.T., his accomplishments are as overmatched as most of his opponents were.

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