Anderson Silva is still finding new chapters. In December 2025, aged 50, The Spider stopped fellow former UFC champion Tyron Woodley in the second round of a boxing match in Miami, moving his pro boxing record to 4–2. In March 2026 he turned down an offer to return to MMA, saying any future bouts would be in the ring only.
For many fans, though, he remains the most thrilling striker the UFC has ever seen. Browse our UFC collection.
Anderson Silva Fact File
| Full name | Anderson da Silva |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 14 April 1975 (age 51) |
| Place of birth | São Paulo, Brazil (raised in Curitiba) |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) |
| Weight class | Middleweight |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Current status | Retired from MMA; occasional professional boxer |
| Nickname | The Spider |
Career History
| Years | Promotion | Fights | W-L | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–2006 | Brazilian and regional shows | 10 | 8–2 | Meca World Vale Tudo, Gladiator FC and others |
| 2001 | Shooto | 2 | 2–0 | Shooto middleweight title win over Hayato Sakurai |
| 2002–2004 | Pride | 5 | 3–2 | Wins over Carlos Newton and Alex Stiebling |
| 2004–2006 | Cage Rage | 4 | 4–0 | Cage Rage middleweight champion |
| 2006–2020 | UFC | 25 | 17–7 (1 NC) | Middleweight champion 2006–2013, 10 defences |
| Total | Professional MMA | 46 | 34–11 (1 NC) | UFC Hall of Fame, 2023 |
Figures are his official professional MMA record as listed by Sherdog and Wikipedia; boxing and exhibition bouts are not included.
Early Years in Curitiba
Silva grew up with little money, spending most of his childhood in Curitiba with his aunt and uncle. He started with jiu-jitsu alongside the neighbourhood kids, then picked up taekwondo, capoeira and muay thai as a teenager.
He turned professional in 1997 and spent his early years on Brazilian shows, sharpening the striking that would later look almost unfair.
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Breakthrough: Shooto, Pride and Cage Rage
His first big statement came in Japan in 2001, when he beat Hayato Sakurai to win the Shooto middleweight title. Spells in Pride followed, with wins over Alex Stiebling and Carlos Newton.
British fans got an early look at him in Cage Rage, where he took the middleweight belt from Lee Murray in 2004. By 2006 the UFC had seen enough.
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Peak: Middleweight King
Silva knocked out Chris Leben on his UFC debut in June 2006, then took the middleweight title from Rich Franklin at UFC 64 with a flurry of knees. What followed was a 2,457-day reign, the longest in UFC history, with a record 10 successful middleweight defences and 16 straight UFC wins.
The highlights still look like special effects. He submitted Pride champion Dan Henderson, dismantled Forrest Griffin at light heavyweight, rallied in the fifth round to submit Chael Sonnen at UFC 117 and flattened Vitor Belfort with a front kick to the face at UFC 126.
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Later Career and Legacy
The reign ended against Chris Weidman at UFC 162 in July 2013, and a badly broken leg in their rematch that December would have finished most careers. Silva came back, beat Derek Brunson in 2017 and kept fighting the division's next generation until his UFC farewell against Uriah Hall in October 2020.
Boxing then gave him a late second act, with wins over Julio César Chávez Jr. and Tito Ortiz in 2021 and Woodley in 2025. The UFC inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 2023.
Honours
Titles
- UFC Middleweight Champion (2006–2013)
- Cage Rage Middleweight Champion
- Shooto Middleweight Champion (2001)
Records
- Longest title reign in UFC history (2,457 days)
- Most UFC middleweight title defences (10)
- 16 consecutive UFC wins
Recognition
- UFC Hall of Fame (2023)
- Subject of the Paramount+ series Anderson "The Spider" Silva (2023)
Away From the Game
Silva has acted in films including Tapped Out (2014), and his life story was dramatised in a Paramount+ series in 2023. He founded the Anderson Silva Muay Thai College and has long been associated with Brazilian football club Corinthians.
FAQs
How old is Anderson Silva?
Anderson Silva was born on 14 April 1975, so he is 51.
Where was Anderson Silva born?
He was born in São Paulo, Brazil, and spent most of his childhood in Curitiba.
How tall is Anderson Silva?
He stands 6 ft 2 in (188 cm).
Which promotions has Anderson Silva fought for?
He fought on Brazilian regional shows, Shooto, Pride and Cage Rage before joining the UFC, where he competed from 2006 to 2020.
What is Anderson Silva's MMA record?
His professional MMA record is 34–11 with one no contest, including 17 UFC wins and 10 successful middleweight title defences.
What was Anderson Silva's most famous knockout?
Most fans pick his front kick to the face of Vitor Belfort at UFC 126 in February 2011, one of the most replayed finishes in UFC history.
Shop the Anderson Silva Collection
If The Spider's highlight reel still gives you goosebumps, wear a design inspired by one of the Octagon's greatest champions.
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Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Georges St-Pierre Career Story and Khabib Nurmagomedov Career Story.
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