would prime silva be the current mw champ?

[Ashi Barai]

mw has killers with weidman still in there, yoel romero, and of course the champ rockhold.
if we took silva in his prime and put him in there do you think he could be the champion?

 

[Fartler]

Yes..

 

[TheRuthlessOne]

Nope

Rockhold via GNP

 

[imagesmb]

Possibly... The only difference between this Silva and Silva from 6 years ago is that he's lost a step. Punches that would have missed completely now land on him. It's a lot harder to counter strike when you're getting punched in the face.

 

[cmw43]

Strong wrestlers with great BJJ and stand up skills - Rockhold and Weidman would cause any version of Silva problems.

 

[TheRuthlessOne]

Chael took Prime anderson down at will

Rockhold finishes it within round 1

 

[Allegory]

Prime Silva was the Middleweight Champion... the obvious answer is yes. You appear to suggest that the pool of middleweights is more talented today than it was then. Who's to say? Without a time machine, its all speculation and MMA math.

Since you ask, though, few people have done the amazing things in the ring or cage that Anderson has. He would be champ today if he were ten years younger, for sure

 

[joeyjoejoe]

The top 5 is more skilled these days so probably not, but it's not like he would be completely outmatched.

 

[Bend NvR Break]

Prime Silva would still have gold. The most dangerous fighter in the history of the UFC with his striking plus his ground game is strong. Andersen Silva defeated Andersen Silva. If he'd had taken Weidman more seriously in the first fight there's a very good chance he still be champ today.

 

[MachidaNo1Fan]

I don't see how anyone could say otherwise. Talent wise, he's the best striker we've ever seen.

 

[B0mbSquad]

Everyone who says Rockhold would handle him... Have you watched him fight before he tore apart Weidman? His offensive wrestling is very mediocre. Much better in a scramble. He has very average takedowns. Comparing him to Chael is silly because Chael has a great shot.

He might have caught a loss. Hard to be undefeated forever, and the current competition is pretty good. That said, Anderson is special. There is a difference between pretty good and special.

 

[jtruelove]

No. Weidman was a terrible match up for Silva and would still be so if Silva was younger.

The problem to me is, Bisping has clearly improved as a fighter. His last fight was the best that I have seen of him, this is definitely not the same guy who got knocked out by Hendo.
Bisping has been around for a long time, though... Would Michael Bisping in 2008 or 2009 beat Anderson Silva in 2008 or 2009 if the fought? To me that's what matters.

Weidman's debut in the UFC was back in 2011. The real question to me is, would Anderson Silva in 2011 beat Weidman in 2011?

 

[MachidaNo1Fan]

Everyone who says Rockhold would handle him... Have you watched him fight before he tore apart Weidman? His offensive wrestling is very mediocre. Much better in a scramble. He has very average takedowns. Comparing him to Chael is silly because Chael has a great shot.

He might have caught a loss. Hard to be undefeated forever, and the current competition is pretty good. That said, Anderson is special. There is a difference between pretty good and special.

He truly is a special fighter. I'm more pissed at the fact that he wasted all his effort in trying to taunt and showboat than executing his God given skills. And don't come at me with the "that's his game" bullshit either. No, Anderson does not need to excessively showboat to demolish his opponents. I think he simply does not care. His ego is sometimes WAY too over the top, like he's trying to prove something.

 

[j18lee]

Of course Silva would be champ. TRT Vitor (basically an effectively 28 year old Vitor) destroyed Rockhold.

A prime Silva is better than TRT Vitor so yes, he would be champ.

 

[Sharingan]

Rockhold doesn't fight like Chael. He got KTFO'ed by Vitor who got KO'ed by Silva.

Weidman is the only one who tailored his style to beat Silva but a prime Silva can still overcome. Weidman's defense is pretty bad in general. He tends to stand his ground and cover up, which will get him killed in the clinch or by Silva's accurate strikes.

30ish year old Silva beats all these guys.

 

[BrazilianDude]

No imo. Would lose to Weidman, Rockhold and Romero.

 

[B0mbSquad]

He truly is a special fighter. I'm more pissed at the fact that he wasted all his effort in trying to taunt and showboat than executing his God given skills. And don't come at me with the "that's his game" bullshit either. No, Anderson does not need to excessively showboat to demolish his opponents. I think he simply does not care. His ego is sometimes WAY too over the top, like he's trying to prove something.

Depends on what you consider taunting. When he stands flatly with his hands down or waves on his opponent, that is taunting. When he does his wing chun/ Filipino boxing, or his various movements, whether it be his spinning or with his arms, I believe that is the way he fights. He moves with fluidity and creativity. It is what makes him great. Its just so different from everyone else that it really stands out.

 

[HomeRun916]

Yes.

 

[AFewDollarsMore]

of course. rockhold? ....rockhold? .....ROCKHOLD?

 

[Air Lats]

I'm almost certain he would be.