5 Reasons Why Anderson Silva Could Beat Vitor Belfort

Hello once more fans and friends, and welcome to the start of another new series. I recently posted a double-article detailing five reasons why Anderson Silva could beat Georges St. Pierre, then a reverse article of five reasons why Georges St. Pierre could beat Anderson Silva. I liked the idea of the article so much that I’ll be turning it into a new series, simply called “5 Reasons Why”. And while I will cover some other fantasy match-ups now and again, the main focus of this series will be dissecting a big, upcoming MMA main event and how its two competitors could conceivably beat each other. And what better way to start it than with one of my favorite fighters facing one of his toughest challenges ever? This is “5 Reasons Why Anderson Silva Could Beat Vitor Belfort”, with the reverse soon to follow.

5. Silva holds a significant advantage on the ground.

Vitor Belfort has been fighting for over fourteen years. When the clock turns to October 11, 1996, “The Phenom” will have officially competed as a professional Mixed Martial Artist for fifteen years. And how many times in those fourteen-plus years of action has Belfort won by submission? Twice. Two times in fourteen years. Silva has five submission wins to Belfort’s two, and Silva also trains at Black House with the Nogueira brothers, generally regarded as two of the best ground tacticians ever. If this fight goes to the ground, Belfort may end up being easy pickings for Silva’s long legs and dreaded Triangle Choke.

4. Silva became famous for smashing people’s faces in when they tried to push the pace and bring the fight to him.

Every now and then a fan or journalist talks about how fighters are too afraid of Silva, and that beating “The Spider” involves pushing the pace and bringing the fight to him. Many people assume Belfort will do just that. The only thing is… that’s how Silva got so famous in the first place. Chris Leben tried to finish him, and Silva gave Leben the biggest loss of Leben’s career. Forrest Griffin tried to push him and Silva laid down a beating so embarrassing that it continues to haunt the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion to this day. Chael Sonnen did it and did it well, but even he was on the verge of being KO’d during their fight and he did ultimately end up losing out. So while Chael Sonnen gave the doubters a bit of ammunition, the overwhelming majority of fighters who tried to push Silva were greeted with a shocking KO.

3. Belfort’s KO power is unquestioned, but so is Silva’s.

Some people look at this reason and think I must be joking, but let’s look at the facts. The fact of the matter is this: Silva has more (T)KO victories on his record than Vitor Belfort. Go ahead and look it up, it’s true. People think Belfort will have the advantage because he can KO people quicker, but Silva knows how to finish opponents and has finished plenty of them in the past. It’s true that Belfort does possess the kind of KO power necessary to KO someone like Silva, but the reverse is also true, and before their fight is through it may be Belfort that ends up taking a one-way ride to the land of dreams.

2. Belfort is facing a long, long… long layoff.

This showdown has been postponed for so long that it’s almost become a recurring joke, it’s “the disappearing fight”. Belfort was expected to face Anderson Silva at the following events: UFC 108, UFC 109, and UFC 112. Each and every time the plug was eventually pulled. It’s been over a year since Belfort last competed, and “ring rust” is very real and very dangerous for a veteran fighter like Belfort. If Belfort shows up to his fight against Silva even a bit rusty, Silva will exploit that weakness to its fullest.

And the number one reason Anderson Silva could beat Vitor Belfort is because…

1. Anderson Silva is a better striker than Vitor Belfort.

There, I said it. I know this is the topic that everyone loves to argue about, but I firmly believe that Anderson Silva is a better striker. He’s better at timing his punches. He’s better at getting out of harm’s way. He’s better at countering, he’s better at clinching, he’s better at Muay Thai. Anderson Silva is simply the best striker currently competing in Mixed Martial Arts.

And that’s my opinion, fans and friends. What about you? What are some of your reasons for why you think that Anderson Silva could beat Vitor Belfort?