Sometimes, it’s not about what you do, but how you do it.
After 120 seconds of unbridled fighter inertia at UFC 103’s Main Event... ZIP. ZAP. BING. BANG. Done.
Wow. Vitor Belfort unleashed his Tasmanian devil-like flurry of fists onto Rich Franklin so quickly Franklin probably thought he was still watching Belfort’s tapes on fast-forward.
After over a decade of disappointment, has Belfort finally blossomed into the fighter everyone dreamed he could develop into after quickly demolishing Wanderlei? Almost 90 UFC's later, Belfort has not only managed to get himself into title contention with Anderson Silva, but did the unthinkable and leapfrogged Henderson and Marquardt in the pecking order (Hendo just can’t get a break here huh?). Even though Hendo and Nate the Great are both coming off impressive recent KO's themselves, Belfort did his bidding against a much better and proven fighter. Yet even more pertinent than that... he might actually beat Anderson Silva.
Yes. You read that correctly. I know its pure MMA heresy to even bring this up, but here I go. Anderson Silva is too slow to hang with Vitor’s lightning quick hands and his head is in the wrong place. With all Dana White’s worshipping flattery, Anderson has been led to believe that he is God’s striking gift to the Middleweight Class of the MMA world. Dana’s got Silva believing he’s so invincible at 185, Silva is daydreaming about fighting guys like Fedor, Roy Jones Jr., and light heavyweights.
With all of Silva’s insane head movement, pin-point precision punching, and overall technical skills, it’s practically unfathomable to imagine him getting out-skilled by a striking fighter. But none of that will matter against Belfort. Why? Because the unchangeable truth remains; Anderson Silva is too slow for Vitor Belfort. Not only will Silva lose, but Silva will suffer his first TKO defeat ever at the speeding bullet hands of Belfort.
It’s not what Belfort does. It’s how fast he does it.
Boiling in disagreeing rage? Come shut me up at the Torch Boards.
[Anderson Silva art credit Cory Gould (c) MMATorch]
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There's a little more to it than speed. There's a reason Belfort doesn't
just come in, swing really fast and win. First he'd have to have Anderson's
timing down, then he would have to see an opening. This is where I believe
it's not a guarantee or even a sure thing that Belfort beats Silva.
If Belfort comes out guns blazing, I think it's pretty safe to say that
Silva would dismantle him. If Belfort doesn't come out like a mad man, and
there's a feeling out process, I think time favors Silva.
The longer it goes, the more opportunities for mistakes. Out of the two,
I'd see Belfort making a mistake before Silva. And Silva has an impeccable
reaction time, and any moment Belfort would give him, Silva would hit him
and hit him in exactly the right spot. This guy stood in front of Forrest
with his hands at his side. He wasn't even defending himself.
Now, I'm in no way saying that it's impossible that Belfort would win, or
that he doesn't have a shot. I think while your assessment of Belfort is
correct, I don't think you give Silva enough credit. I think a Belfort
victory is possible, but I think a focused Anderson Silva who recognizes
the talent and skill of Belfort has the edge, even if it's only 51-49.
JJ
24 Sep 2009, 18:43
After reading your article, I can say that you sir, know nothing about MMA!
The fact that you call Silva slow AND say he will lose by TKO to belfort is
absurd! If you dont like Silva, then just say so and dont make a mockery of
yourself!
Mykeeluv
24 Sep 2009, 19:57
I like what Jared is saying. Vitor can win. But I don't think he will.
Anderson isn too slow. If vitor as the edge with speed it's not by much.
And he's also right about Anderson silva's ninja like reflexes. If vitor
makes a single mistake it will cost him the fight. I don't think Anderson
will mess up, or even get caught by one of vitor's lightning fast hands.
They both have speed and power. But Anderson is more technical and has more
diverse striking in my opinion. I also see him beating vitor on the ground
if it went to that. Now even if vitor wins I believe hendo will take him
out in his next fight. Nothing against vitor but he isn't the best
middleweight. Anderson silva will win by tko if vitor makes a mistake or a
decision if he doesn't. Then Anderson will beat hendo and then Nate
marquardt. Then maybe another vitor fight. Also I don't like how hendo got
screwed over with all of this
zack
26 Sep 2009, 00:35
This is serious delusional talk, Vitor Belfort is going to be the Silva
Slayer? Too fast for Silva?....I never checked this site, since i just read
the stuff on my iPhone , but I had to go on here and "shut this guy
up"..Firstly, to say that Vitor will beat Silva on the one thing that makes
SIlva the greatest of all time, IS JUST PLAIN STUPIDITY. Period.
in an effort to quiet this editor, i have come to realize this is either a
joke or a moron, and both of which do not deserve a reply of any real
merit...but i am compelled, if anyone actually thinks this moron that wrote
this shit is on to something, PLEASE, my email address is right here, if
you would like to have intelligent convo on MMA hit me up, but more
importantly, MR. NorweiganNightmare...please retire and find a new job and
please make sure you write the first article on UFC 108 on how Silva moved
down in weight to DE-FUCKING-STROY some fucking idiot that thought he could
dethrone the best middleweight, best fighter on the planet. this whole
time im thinking too, isnt Vitor in Black House with Machida, Little and
Big Nog and....SILVA??? hmmmmm....this is always like Christmas to me
everytime i hear of the next Silva murder, cus i always manage to find an
idiot dumb enough to think Silva will lose and even dumber to make a bet of
it..
You guys are falling into his trap. This is exactly what he expected to
happen. We all know he's full of $#!+!! The only way Vitor will win is if
Silva makes a mistake. And the chances of that happening are very very very
slim.
Fightjunkie
27 Sep 2009, 23:55
Did anybody notice that when Vitor hit Rich, he then hit him in the back of
the head 3 times before the ref called the fight? Its funny how no one is
talking about it.
You're kidding right? I don't question belfort's speed, but I do question
his accuracy. Rewatch the Franklin fight. Belfort only grazed and missed
with the standing flurry. Rich was pushed/fell to the ground and it was
only when he was stationary on the ground that belfort pounded him
senseless. And yes, belfort did hit him in the back of the head/neck area.
