Written by Nick Halili | DUB Magazine | June 23, 2009
Fans of "The Matrix" may recall that Neo's arch-nemesis, Agent Smith often referred to him by another name: "Mr. Anderson." Those who have seen the UFC's own Mr. Anderson fight might actually be convinced that he is indeed "The One", after seeing him bob and weave away from punches and kicks thrown at him in the octagon with less effort than Keanu Reeves's character evades gunfire in "bullet-time". But unlike Neo, Anderson Silva has yet to find that nemesis, that equal, to take him to the limit and truly challenge him for supremacy of the UFC's middleweight division. For the past three years, he has cut a swath of destruction through his weight class, leaving foes and fans alike thinking: how do you beat this guy?
Although he started out as a muay thai fighter, Silva has beaten a who's who in the middleweight division in almost every way possible: he's knocked out iron-chinned Chris Leben, , he's ground and pounded elite grappler Nate Marquardt, he's outstruck top striker Rich Franklin, and he's submitted jiu-jitsu black belt Travis Lutter and Olympic wrestler Dan Henderson. At this point in his career, the questions Anderson Silva has left to answer concern what his place in mixed-martial arts history will ultimately be and what challenges in the sport he has left to conquer. DUB Magazine recently caught up with the UFC's reigning middleweight champ to ask him about what his plans are for the upcoming year:
DUB: What is your strategy for fighting Thales Leites? Are you concentrating on anything in particular to get ready for him?
AS - I don't adapt my training to my opponents.
DUB: Who are you currently training with?
AS - I train with the same guys, Rodrigo Minotauro Nogueira, Rogerio Minotouro Nogueira, Josuel Distak, Daniel Woirin, Rogerio Camoes, Andre Galvao
DUB: Please describe your weekly training schedule.
AS - I train everything every day.
DUB: If you defeat Thales, who do you think is next in line for a shot at your title?
AS - That's not for me to decide, I will fight who ever the UFC puts in front of me.
DUB: Who is the most difficult match up for you out of these contenders: Demian Maia, Nate Marquardt, Yushin Okami? What other tough opponents do you see in your weight class?
AS - There are a lot of tough guys in my weight class, they all pose their difficulties.
DUB: Do you want to stay at middleweight, or would you move to light heavyweight?
AS - We will have to wait and see. But I want to stay in my weight class and defend my 185lbs belt.
DUB: Do you still train with undefeated UFC light-heavyweight Lyoto Machida, and would you fight him if Dana made it a main event or title fight and paid both of you generously?
AS - There is no chance of Lyoto and I fighting.
DUB: How do sparring sessions go with Lyoto?
AS - Our training is as usual, we are friends and train together whenever he is in Rio.
DUB: Do you consider yourself the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world?
AS - I don't think I am the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Maybe some day when I retire I will be able to look back at my career and think that, but I can't consider myself the best yet, there is always something to improve in.
DUB: How do you feel about the possible champion vs. champion matchup with Georges St. Pierre, if he moved up to middleweight to fight you?
AS - I train to fight the best in the world, if it happens, we will have to wait and see.
DUB: It's been said that you are interested in fighting Roy Jones Jr. in a boxing match. If you eventually run out of challenges in MMA, would you be interested in such a fight?
AS - It's been a personal wish of mine to do an international boxing fight some day. Maybe one day it will come true, who knows. For now, I am focused on the UFC and defending my belt.
DUB: Many fighters teach at gyms or academies in addition to fighting. Are you currently an instructor at an academy? If so, could you tell me more about the school, what you are teaching, etc.?
AS - I am not a full time instructor, but I am always at the gym and I love teaching and coaching my teammates.
DUB: What people and sponsors would you like to thank? Do you have a website you want your fans to check out?
AS - I would like to thank my sponsors Silver Star, Sinister, Nutrabolics.