Jon Anik thinks Israel Adesanya has surpassed Anderson Silva as the greatest middleweight of all time after UFC 287.
Adesanya (23-2 MMA, 12-2 UFC), who notched five title defenses in his first reign as middleweight champion, reclaimed his belt from Alex Pereira in this past Saturday’s headliner in Miami. After getting knocked out by Pereira at UFC 281, “The Last Stylebender” avenged his loss with a knockout of his own in Round 2.
Although Silva defended his middleweight title 10 consecutive times while he was champion, the UFC’s lead play-by-play commentator argues that Adesanya’s resume is more impressive.
“It also, in my humble opinion, cements Israel Adesanya as one of the greatest of all time,” Anik said on ESPN’s “SportsCenter.” “There are people who can still argue Anderson Silva is the greatest middleweight champion of all time, and in terms of the title defenses, that is OK. But I sit here in 2023 and not just argue for Adesanya’s case as one of the best pound-for-pound guys right now. I think he’s the greatest middleweight champion of all time based on his strength of schedule and based on this win.”
Anik was in awe not only of Adesanya’s performance but what he had to overcome mentally after losing three times to Pereira, including twice in kickboxing.
“This can be argued as one of the biggest singular wins in mixed martial arts history,” Anik said. “Certainly the rivalry between these two fighters, it’s well documented. Even though the series was close, it was 3-0 for Alex Pereira. And one of the hardest things to do, in the UFC in particular, is to lose your belt and then win it back. In the span of five months he was able to do that.”
He continued, “I do think this win in particular is a lot more about the psychology than the physical. Just getting Izzy’s mind right to actually walk into a combat sports setting, down 3-0, and to beat this man like this? I think you can argue it as one of the biggest wins in UFC history.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 287.
