All these years later and people still refuse to admit that Chris Weidman was better than Anderson Silva

[Goutfather]

it’s harder to stay champ than become champ. as champ, everyone reviews your tape, and eventually someone figures out a way to beat you. silva was untouchable during his reign—literally. watch the fights again if you forgot, he really was on a different level. weidman benefited from having all those years of watching anderson, but also anderson getting old. if you put prime silva vs prime weidman in a cage with no special preparation (i.e., if they didn’t review footage, or have a camp), imo silva wins 9 / 10 times. if they prepare, he wins 8 / 10

 

[melvinj0]

Until Weidman it seemed that most guys who fought Silva were either overly hesitant (which lead to boring fights) or overly aggressive which led to highlight KOs.

In both fights Weidman did a good job of putting the pressure on Silva without getting too sloppy. He was aggressive and took chances but also very technical and calm.

Not sure if Prime Anderson would have suffered the same fate, but during those two fights I do think Weidman was the better fighter.

 

[dogsdonutsdragons]

chris was really good and dangerous. anderson not around he still would have grabbed a belt imo.

I do think he met anderson at the perfect time and had even more luck on his side when the matches played out.

could he have done that to prime silva? yes. I just think it would have been less likely. who knows though anderson had weird consistency.
wideman probably would have did good vs him that night chael rode him out for five rounds.

 

[HeffDoesWant]

See this is opposite end of the spectrum. He took the rematch extremely seriously and was dropped within 90 seconds

Clearly Uriah Hall is better than either of them.

But Silva lasting 58 times longer than Weidman against Hall means Silva is better than Weidman.

(Yes I did the maths, 57.88 times longer to be precise)

 

[Doctor Grudge]

Chael Sonnen dominates Anderson for almost a whole 5 rd fight,but Weidman couldnt be better than Anderson? K

And in the rematch Chael Sonnen very much did not dominate for 5 whole rounds.

Can just as easily say "and Weidman got knocked the fuck out by _____ (take your pick) but Silva couldn't be better than Weidman? K"

 

[HHJ]

And in the rematch Chael Sonnen very much did not dominate for 5 whole rounds.

Can just as easily say "and Weidman got knocked the fuck out by _____ (take your pick) but Silva couldn't be better than Weidman? K"

Anderson was always susceptible to good wrestlers. Weidman could also strike much better than Sonnen. So he won.

 

[Doctor Grudge]

Anderson was always susceptible to good wrestlers. Weidman could also strike much better than Sonnen. So he won.

Silva beat Yushin Okami, Chael Sonnen (they fought twice), and Dan Henderson rather easily. He is not "susceptible" to good wrestlers.

Also, Chael Sonnen is a better wrestler than Weidman. So it's not like Weidman is just Chael Sonnen with striking.

Second, you can use this logic and say that because Weidman was knocked out by inferior strikers he would get knocked out by Silva. It's the exact same logic.

 

[HHJ]

Silva beat Yushin Okami, Chael Sonnen (they fought twice), and Dan Henderson rather easily. He is not "susceptible" to good wrestlers.

Also, Chael Sonnen is a better wrestler than Weidman. So it's not like Weidman is just Chael Sonnen with striking.

Second, you can use this logic and say that because Weidman was knocked out by inferior strikers he would get knocked out by Silva. It's the exact same logic.

Sonnen took silva down at will,and mixed the strikes in with the TD's and that caused Silva all sorts of trouble

Enter The Chris

 

[BigOlJeet]

Notice how Weidman turned into a can after USADA got implemented? Should tell you a lot.

 

[Enigma87]

Chris Weidman - Three successful title defenses
Anderson Silva - Ten successful title defenses

Anderson is widely regarded as one of the top 4 or 5 GOATs by the majority of people. Chris Weidman is a great fighter, and beating Silva is a huge win, but he is nowhere near as accomplished or as great

edit: nvm, you already clarified in the OP Silva is greater in all time rankings.

I still think Silva is better H2H. In the first fight he was clowning around, and the 2nd fight he broke his leg

It’s funny that when he climbs around and wins, like against Forrest, he’s “in the Matrix” but when he clowns and loses, it doesn’t count. Always found that as a way for Silva fans to cope

 

[Enigma87]

Notice how Weidman turned into a can after USADA got implemented? Should tell you a lot.

Dude had over THIRTY surgeries by then.

 

[Black-Joto]

Troll Clown

 

[checktheknuckles]

Anderson was the champ at 38 years old. Chris is lucky to get another win at that same age in the UFC, let alone be a top 10 contender or even have the belt.

 

[mraa1]

Beat the piss out of Machida too. Weidman had a crazy peak

 

[ipowerslapmywife]

he probably would have beat weidman if he took the fight seriously. he treated it like it was some local ymca gym fight the way he behaved

He took the fight seriously twice and still lost. He was almost knocked out in the rematch then got his leg snapped in half

 

[ipowerslapmywife]

Two fluke wins.
Yea, better.

Neither were flukes. Andy didn’t win a single round in either fight and was brutally beaten in both

 

[ipowerslapmywife]

Clearly Uriah Hall is better than either of them.

But Silva lasting 58 times longer than Weidman against Hall means Silva is better than Weidman.

(Yes I did the maths, 57.88 times longer to be precise)

Weidman knocked out Hall

 

[ipowerslapmywife]

Thing is Andy was juiced and fought in a weak division and went life and death with Chael. He just started facing better talent and he got exposed.

 

[ipowerslapmywife]

See this is opposite end of the spectrum. He took the rematch extremely seriously and was dropped within 90 seconds

Yeah people act like he didn’t almost KO Andy again in the first round of the rematch. He dropped him like a sack of potatoes and was almost out. The ones who cry about the leg break must’ve not watched him getting pummeled the whole fight before Chris snapped his leg

 

[pankrat]

People still refusing that Vitor Belfort is a better boxer than Evander Hollyfield ever was