Was NSAC Too "Hard On" Anderson Silva? Silva: BEFORE & AFTER
Will Anderson Silva ever fight again? I am not certain he will, nor am I certain he should; especially after his first attempt at redemption became a humiliating public spectacle.
This is how I view Anderson Silva now, and how I saw him before his first Weidman bout:
Before:
1. As a man: Intelligent, self assured with supreme confidence in his abilities, a very private family man
2. As a living legend: A superhuman whom the space-time continuum yielded to
3. As a fighter: A nearly invincible mixed martial artist possessing nearly genius level fight IQ, with stellar performances in MW, LHW and HW divisions
4. As a role model: A picture of good health and excellent behavioral hygiene our children could look up to
After:
1. As a man: An ordinary man unsure of himself and his abilities, failing in his desperate attempts to salvage the illusion he had created in the minds of many
2. As a legend: A dishonored mortal being, who cannot find comfort and safety in any dimension
3. As a fighter: A fighter with major technical flaws (i.e. 1st round, second fight vs. Weidman) who went on a devastating losing streak, and failed to score a decisive victory over an average welterweight fighter in Nick Diaz
4. As a role model: A disgraced public figure, with major character flaws (e.g. in his appearance before NSAC) and poor behavioral hygiene, whom we need to protect our children from
I personally would have respected Anderson Silva much more if he admitted his mistakes before NSAC, even without giving any details, and taken responsibility for his actions. Now, he is just another lying cheating fighter on a losing streak, not unlike his fellow Brazillians Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva, and not unlike his arch nemesis Chael Sonnen.
Will Anderson Silva ever fight again?
If so, whom should he face on his return?
How many degrees of separation are there between the legends of Anderson Silva, Wanderlei Silva, and Vitor Belfort? (As we all know, winning is NOT everything. Hector Lombard was once on a 24 fight win streak. Jon Fitch was once on a 16 fight win streak with a long tenure in the UFC).