Ali Akbar Rosady
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight titans Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman are slated to rekindle their storied rivalry, transitioning from the octagon to the boxing ring. The highly anticipated bout has been officially added to the undercard of the Jake Paul vs. Gervonta "Tank" Davis event, with Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) confirming the matchup on Thursday. The clash between Silva and Weidman will unfold at the Kaseya Center in Miami on November 14, marking a significant return to combat for both athletes and a unique chapter in their intertwined careers. The contest is set to be a heavyweight encounter over six rounds and will serve as an opening feature on the main card, which will be broadcast exclusively on Netflix.
The genesis of this unexpected boxing match emerged shortly after the announcement of the Paul-Davis main event. According to Nakisa Bidarian, CEO and co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, Anderson Silva’s team initiated discussions. "Anderson and his team approached me immediately after the Jake Paul vs. ‘Tank’ Davis fight was announced and said they would like to be a part of the event and he would like to fight Chris Weidman," Bidarian told ESPN. He further elaborated on MVP’s immediate interest once both fighters expressed a genuine desire for a professional boxing contest, citing the deep historical narrative between them, the potential to engage a broad generational consumer base, and the enhanced marketability of the event, particularly within Brazil, Silva’s home country.
The original saga between Silva, widely regarded as one of mixed martial arts’ greatest competitors, and Weidman, a formidable challenger who rose to prominence, is etched into UFC lore. Their initial encounter at UFC 162 on July 6, 2013, stands as one of the most shocking upsets in the sport’s history. Silva, then 38 years old, entered the fight as the reigning UFC Middleweight Champion, having held the title for an unprecedented 2,457 days across 10 successful defenses. His professional MMA record at the time was 33-4, with his UFC record an unblemished 16-0, a winning streak that remains the longest in UFC history. Silva’s flamboyant style, characterized by elusive head movement, pinpoint striking, and occasional taunting, had become his signature.
Weidman, a then-undefeated prospect with a 9-0 MMA record, presented a significant challenge with his elite wrestling and developing striking. Despite his credentials, he was a considerable underdog against the seemingly invincible "Spider." In the second round of their championship bout, Silva engaged in his characteristic showboating, dropping his hands and inviting Weidman to strike. Weidman capitalized on this bravado, connecting with a left hook that dropped Silva, followed by ground and pound that rendered the champion unconscious. The knockout, occurring at 1:18 of the second round, sent shockwaves through the combat sports world, ending Silva’s record-setting reign and his legendary win streak. The outcome raised questions about whether Silva’s antics had contributed to his downfall or if Weidman had simply proven to be the superior fighter on the night.
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The demand for a rematch was immediate, and the two met again just five months later at UFC 168 on December 28, 2013. The highly anticipated second encounter promised to settle any lingering doubts. In the first round, Weidman landed a significant right hand that dropped Silva, and while attempting a submission, Silva survived. The second round, however, delivered an even more dramatic and gruesome conclusion. As Silva threw a powerful low kick, Weidman checked it with his knee, resulting in Silva’s left tibia and fibula fracturing instantaneously. The fight was immediately stopped, with Weidman declared the winner via TKO due to injury at 1:16 of the second round. The image of Silva collapsing in agony became one of the most vivid and tragic moments in UFC history, casting a long shadow over the remainder of his illustrious career.
For Anderson Silva, the leg break marked a turning point. He underwent extensive surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation process. While he returned to the octagon, his subsequent MMA career saw him struggle to regain his previous dominance, compiling a record of 1-6 (with one no-contest) in his final eight UFC fights before his departure from the promotion in 2020. His legacy as an all-time great, however, remained undisputed, leading to his induction into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2023.
Chris Weidman, following his two victories over Silva, continued his career as UFC Middleweight Champion, successfully defending his title three times against Lyoto Machida, Vitor Belfort, and Demian Maia. However, his reign was eventually ended by Luke Rockhold at UFC 194 in December 2015. Weidman’s career since then has been plagued by injuries and a mixed record, facing top contenders and experiencing a similar leg injury to Silva’s in a fight against Uriah Hall in April 2021, though he ultimately returned to competition. His journey through the sport has been marked by resilience, but also by the physical toll of high-level competition.
Now, nearly 11 years after their last encounter, both men are venturing into the boxing ring, a discipline where Silva has considerably more experience. Anderson Silva’s professional boxing record stands at 3-2. After a brief foray into boxing earlier in his career (a 1-1 record in 1998 and 2005), he made a high-profile return to the sport in 2021, showcasing impressive skill and fluidity for a fighter of his age. He secured a unanimous decision victory over former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., a fight that garnered significant attention and respect for Silva’s boxing prowess. He followed this with a first-round knockout of fellow former MMA champion Tito Ortiz. His most recent boxing outing was in October 2022, where he faced Jake Paul, losing via unanimous decision. This experience against a dedicated boxer, even in a losing effort, provides Silva with a tangible background in the sport that Weidman lacks.
Chris Weidman, conversely, has no recorded professional or amateur boxing matches. His claim of being "undefeated in boxing" is technically accurate due to this absence of prior competition. This lack of formal boxing experience presents a significant variable in the upcoming bout. While Weidman possesses striking fundamentals from his MMA career, the nuances of pure boxing, including footwork, defensive head movement, and punch selection within a boxing-specific framework, are distinct from those required in mixed martial arts. His statement, "I’m undefeated in boxing and it’s gonna stay that way on Friday, Nov. 14, live on Netflix. I’m the original spider killer," reflects his confidence, but also highlights the novelty of his transition.
The weight class for this boxing rematch adds another layer of intrigue. Both men competed primarily at middleweight (185 lbs) during their MMA careers. Their boxing match, however, is scheduled at heavyweight, a significant jump that will likely see both fighters carrying more mass than their prime fighting weights. While this might reduce the impact of weight cutting, it also raises questions about their agility, power, and cardiovascular endurance over six rounds at a heavier frame. Silva, at 49, and Weidman, at 40, are both well past their athletic primes, making the physical demands of a heavyweight boxing match a considerable factor.
The fight is set to open the Netflix main card, underscoring the streaming giant’s expanding footprint in live sports broadcasting. This event, headlined by YouTube sensation-turned-boxer Jake Paul and reigning WBA Lightweight Champion Gervonta "Tank" Davis, represents a significant crossover spectacle. Paul, with a professional boxing record of 9-1 (6 KOs), has built a lucrative career by fighting a mix of retired MMA fighters and other social media personalities, proving his drawing power. Davis, an undefeated southpaw with a record of 30-0 (28 KOs), is considered one of boxing’s most dynamic and exciting punchers, representing the pinnacle of traditional boxing talent. The inclusion of Silva vs. Weidman on such a high-profile card highlights the strategic efforts by MVP and Netflix to blend traditional combat sports appeal with compelling narrative and crossover star power, aiming to capture a broad and diverse audience.
For Anderson Silva, this fight represents an opportunity for a measure of closure and perhaps redemption, not in a direct sense of avenging his MMA losses, but in confronting a pivotal figure from his past in a new arena. "I am super excited to embark on another battle against Chris," Silva said in a statement. "We have a history and on Friday, November 14th, live only on Netflix, we’re putting another stamp on our chapter together. It will be a spectacle for the fans!" His enthusiasm reflects a continued passion for competition, even at an advanced age for a combat athlete. For Chris Weidman, it is a chance to prove his combat mettle in an entirely new discipline, to test his striking without the threat of takedowns or kicks, and to potentially extend his psychological dominance over a legendary opponent. The historical context, combined with the novelty of their transition to boxing, ensures that this bout will be closely watched by fans across both mixed martial arts and boxing disciplines.
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