Anderson is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and former UFC Middleweight Champion. Silva was the UFC's longest reigning champion and also holds the longest winning and title defense streak in UFC history, with 16 consecutive wins and 10 title defenses, and is the consensus No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world according to ESPN, Sherdog, Yahoo! Sports and other publications. Silva holds notable victories over former champions Carlos Newton, Hayato Sakurai, Chris Leben, Rich Franklin, Dan Henderson, Forrest Griffin and Vitor Belfort. UFC president Dana White has called Silva "the greatest mixed martial artist ever. Anderson Silva was born April 14, 1975, a middle child of four. The son of a poverty stricken family, Silva spent the majority of his childhood with his aunt and uncle, an officer with the Curitiba police force. Silva has three sons and two daughters with his wife, Dayane. Silva appeared in Never Surrender in 2009 and a documentary about his life in the UFC called Like Water, released in 2011. Silva first began training Jiu Jitsu with neighborhood kids who could afford lessons. By the age of 12, his family was able to set aside enough money to start him in Tae Kwon Do lessons, from which he moved on to Capoeira, before finally settling on Muay Thai at the age of 16. Before he began his career as a professional fighter, Silva worked at McDonalds, and also as a file clerk. He also considers Spider-Man a personal hero, and has a stated love of comic books and comic book heroes. Film and television is one of his greatest passions and he can see himself heavily immersed in the industry in the future.
During his Vale Tudo and MMA career, Anderson holds wins over household names such as Jeremy Horn, Carlos Newton, Lee Murray, Hayato Sakurai, Jorge Rivera, Chris Leben, Rich Franklin, James Irvin, Travis Lutter, Nate Quarry and Dan Henderson.
Got Knocked-Out by his trainer Jos "Pel Landi-Jons in a Muay Thai fight.
Was personally trained in Muay Thai and in Vale Tudo by MMA legend Jos "Pel" Landi-Jons. Both men left Chute Boxe Academy to form the Muay Thai Dream Team Academy in Curitiba, Brazil.
Was an ex-member of the infamous Vale Tudo Academy Chute Boxe in Curitiba, Brazil.
A member of Black House MMA. Other members are Justin Lawrence , Thales Leites , Eduardo Pamplona , Andre Galvao ,Antonio Rogerio Nogueira , Fabricio Camoes ,Jos Aldo , Lyoto Machida ,Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira , Rafael Cavalcante , Pedro Rizzo and Rafael dos Anjos.
He learned some moves with the actor and master of Aikido, Steven Seagal.
He has 5 children with Dayane - Kaory, Gabriel, Kalyl, Kauana and Joao Vitor.
He has written a book about himself called "Anderson Spider Silva - O Relato de um Campeao nos Ringues e na Vida (The Relates from a Champion in the Rings & Life)".
(July 2006) After his lightning KO win over Chris Leben , Anderson is preparing his next UFC fight by training alongside MMA legend Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
(April 2009) Successfully defended his UFC Middleweight title for the 5th time against Thales Leites , extending his current win streak in the UFC to 9 fights, and breaking Royce Gracie and Jon Fitch s record of 8 straight wins in the UFC Octagon.
(October 2008) Successfully defended his UFC Middleweight title for the 4th time against Patrick Cote, tying Royce Gracie and Jon Fitch s record of 8 straight wins in the UFC Octagon.
