Anderson Silva has named the toughest opponent he faced during his legendary MMA career.
‘The Spider’ is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time after a Hall of Fame UFC run.
At the peaks of his powers, Anderson Silva won 17 consecutive fights and made 10 defenses of the UFC middleweight title, against the likes of Chael Sonnen, Vitor Belfort, Dan Henderson, and Rich Franklin, who is currently contemplating a comeback at 50 years old.
However, he says none of them gave him a tougher time than the man he fought in his first title bout.
Anderson Silva names his toughest opponent
In 2008, Anderson Silva fought Hayato Sakurai for the Shooto Middleweight title in Osaka, Japan.
The hometown favorite boasted an 18–0–2 pro MMA record before being matched up with Silva, who went on to beat him by unanimous decision before establishing himself as the pound-for-pound number one during his glittering UFC career.
All these years later, Silva remembers how hard he found things before and during his fight with Sakurai.
“I think Hayato Sakurai because it’s my first title belt,” he replied when boxing legend Andre Ward asked him to name the toughest opponent he fought in MMA.
“I’m so scared because, when I’m in Japan, the guys put me in a room with only a TV, and they put on a lot of highlights. It’s dark and there’s highlights of Hayato Sakurai. Hayato Sakurai beating a lot of people, and I’m just like, ‘Wow! That’s great’.
“But it was good because I was watching him, and I saw a lot of things.
“In the moment, I think Sakurai had [beaten] five Brazilian guys, and I say, ‘Oh my God, I’m in trouble’.
“I think Hayato Sakurai is my first big, big challenge, and very big name I fought. Of course, I fought Dan Henderson, Carlos Newton, and different legends, but I think because it’s my first belt, it was very special for me.”
Will Anderson Silva ever fight again?
Silva’s UFC career came to an end after a TKO loss against Uriah Hall in October 2020.
The 49-year-old recorded just one victory in his last nine fights with MMA’s premier promotion.
However, he’s since proven that age is just a number by launching a successful career in boxing.
Silva picked up high-profile wins over former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and fellow MMA legend Tito Ortiz before going the distance with Jake Paul in October 2022.
Fans can expect to see more of Silva after his stunning admission about his fighting future.
“Never,” he added when 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.
“You know the special force 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.”
