Anderson Silva has mentioned the most difficult opponent with which he was confronted during his legendary MMA career.
'The Spider' is generally considered one of the greatest hunters of all time after a Hall of Fame UFC -Run.
On the peaks of his powers, Anderson Silva won 17 consecutive fights and made 10 defenses of the UFC Middleweight title, against Chael Sonnen, Vitor Belfort, Dan Henderson and Rich Franklin, who currently considered a comeback about 50 years old.
However, he says that none of them has given him a more difficult time than the man he fought in his first title match.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Anderson Silva calls his toughest opponent
In 2008 Anderson Silva fought against Hayato Sakurai for the shooto middleweight title in Osaka, Japan.
The favorite in the hometown had an 18–0-2 Pro MMA record before he was linked to Silva, who went to defeat him by a unanimous decision before he settled as the pound-for-pound number one during his glittering UFC career.
All those years later, Silva remembers how hard he found things before and during his fight with Sakurai.
“I think Hayato Sakurai is because it is my first title belt,” he replied when boxing legend Andre Ward asked him to call the most difficult opponent he fought in MMA.
“I am so scared because, when I am in Japan, the boys have placed me in a room with only a TV, and they have set up many highlights. It is dark and there are highlights of Hayato Sakurai. Hayato Sakurai who beats many people, and I am something like:” Wow! That's great “.
“But it was good because I looked at him and I saw many things.
'At the moment I think Sakurai had [beaten] Five Brazilian boys, and I say: “Oh my God, I'm in trouble.”
“I think Hayato Sakurai is my first big, big challenge and a very big name that I fought. Of course I fought Henderson, Carlos Newton and various legends, but I think because it's my first belt, it was very special for me.”
Will Anderson Silva ever fight again?
The UFC career of Silva came to an end after a TKO loss against Uriah Hall in October 2020.
The 49-year-old only registered one victory in his last nine fights with the most important promotion of MMA.
Since then, however, he has been proven that age is only a song by launching a successful career in boxing.
Silva took high -profile victories over former WBC Middleweight Champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. And colleague MMA legend Tito Ortiz before he went the distance with Jake Paul in October 2022.
Fans can expect more from Silva after his amazing recognition about his fighting future.
“Never,” he added when he was asked about retirement. “I train every day. Physical training every day, two days a week I train Jiu-Jitsu, and yesterday I trained in boxing, and also Muay Thai.
'Do you know the special power in the army? That's the same [with me]. I'm ready. I just need a few things.
“I just need 'where', an opponent and the weight. I train every day … I'm not done fighting.”
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