Conor McGregor has weighed in on the ‘MMA GOAT’ debate and put out his list. He has named Anderson Silva as the ‘No.1 MMA GOAT.’ Obviously, the former champ also named himself on the list.
In a trend that took over Twitter last year, multiple fighters joined the debate. Whilst Ben Askren picked Khabib, there were others who picked fighters like Georges St. Pierre and Jon Jones.
Naturally, McGregor, a man with so much success and experience had to join the debate. In a list that sparked serious debates (surprise), Conor names Silva, GSP, and Jon Jones alongside himself.
Uriah Hall of Jamaica and Anderson Silva of Brazil face off during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in at UFC APEX. (Credits: Getty Images)
While he is humble in accepting number 2, Conor claims he can yet claim no.1 as he is still active. Interestingly enough, the Irishman backed up his list with reasons as to why or why not the fighters occupy their designated spots.
Silva‘s No.1 position is justified by Conor as, “Most stylistic finishes on resume. Front kicks to face. Up elbow (albeit outside UFC) Thai plum knees leading to broken facial bones. Long list of jaw-dropping finishes.” Conor also adds that he and Anderson have the most ‘exciting/important’ finishes in UFC.
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How Good was Anderson Silva?
Clearly, Anderson Silva served as an inspiration to a lot of fighters in the current age. ‘The Spider” was renowned for his athleticism, skill, and ability to put on the most entertaining of fights.
Whilst Silva was nearly ‘untouchable’ in his prime, the deterioration towards the end of his career was very evident. In his last 9 fights, Silva was only able to win once and draw once. The rest included losses to the likes of Chris Weidman, Michael Bisping, Daniel Cormier, and an up-and-coming Israel Adesanya.
Anderson Silva of Brazil kicks Israel Adesanya of New Zealand in their middleweight bout during the UFC 234 at Rod Laver Arena. (Credits: Getty Images)
Even though many rank him lower due to his deteriorating form before his eventual retirement, there are others who rank him based on his prime. It is as Ben Askren once explained, “Depending on what you hold most valuable, you might come up with a different conclusion.”
Whatever the case may be, Anderson will always be known for captivating fighters and fans alike. He has left behind a legacy and a career filled with moments of pure brilliance and marvel. Regardless of how his career finished, he will be regarded as one of the best to ever set foot inside the Octagon.
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