“I believe I can do things people think are impossible,” is a quote I read today from the UFC Middleweight Champion, Anderson Silva. I’ve been doing my homework on this guy simply to try and find out what universe he fell out of. They SAY he’s from Brazil, but if you saw the bout last night with Chael Sonnen, I’m sure you would agree with me that this guy is clearly NOT human.
While this blog is not intended to be about mixed martial arts, it has been on my mind all day, so please bear with me.
If you’re not a fan, let me give a brief back story. Silva has the longest winning streak in UFC history. He has not only defeated his last 11 opponents, he has embarrassed them. The Spider, as he is called, moves like smoke around the octagon anticipating and countering his opponent’s moves seemingly before they are ever even contemplated. He’s fascinating to watch. The dude is a freak.
Well, enter Chael Sonnen – a hot little Billy Badass who says he’s going to “Retire the Spider.” This guy talked so much crap about this fight that a lot of the MMA world began to wonder if he might just be suicidal. I’m sure at some point Dana White said, “Thank God we’re on PPV after the kiddies go to bed. This is going to get ugly.” Sure, Sonnen is a great fighter but like I said, Silva is a freak.
About a minute into the first round, every jaw in the UFC dropped as Sonnen sent The Spider to the mat. Silva was flat on his back and being relentlessly pounded in the skull. At one point, Chael was clanging imaginary cymbals against the champion’s temples. It was excruciating to watch. This went on for four and a half, five minute rounds. At the sound of each bell, the champ pulled himself up, washed out his mouth, took a few deep breaths and jumped back in for more punishment. Chael Sonnen lived up to his trash talk and handed Anderson Silva his ass… right up until round five.
And The Spider caught his prey in this tangled web:
One of my best friends and I were lounging in the pool together today, rehashing some of the hell I’ve lived through in my short 29 years here on Earth. She looked at me, shook her head and said, “I don’t know how you’ve survived everything you have and still have any kind of faith left.” Maybe I should’ve taken a cue from The Spider and answered, “I believe I can do things that people think are impossible.”
The first time I went down for the count, I was seventeen. Round two ended in my early twenties. My husband’s death wrapped up round three in 2008. Having my heart stomped on earlier this year is hopefully then end of round four. Round five has begun and mark my words… when the bell rings this time, the champ is going to come out on top!
