Here are my observations on the Silva vs. Weidman fight.

One, Anderson Silva has secretly wanted to be beat for a while now. I believe he has been insulted at the calibre of fighters that he had to fight, not being as well-rounded as he is, for a while and that's why he turned from "Good" Anderson to "Cocky" Andersonin the octagon.

Ironically, this is what helped him win. "Cocky" would start the fight. He took people off their game plan, demoralized them, and made then doubt themselves and then he would switch back to "Good" Anderson after they stopped doing what they planned for and then he found a way to win; even against Chael Sonnen that he really should have lost. The whole plan rests on good fighters doubting themselves.


This switcheroo plan was working so well.  People kept training for the worst case scenario in a tough hard Anderson and kept meeting the taunting elusive fighter he became. The problem with this game plan was it got predictable.  Once you establish a pattern, sooner or later it will catch up with you.

But really, this was a secret cry for help.  He didn't want to have the pressure of being number one.  He made his money and proved his point.  If someone knocks out "Good" Anderson then he was truly beaten.  But if someone lucks out and clips "Cocky" Anderson then he can still say well I was clowning around and got caught. Ooops. A face saving move for posterity.  The fact he doesn't want a rematch proves my point. He would have to show up with a good game plan and truly beat a better wrestler.  And Weidman showed he can take Anderson down at will. He knew eventually he was going to be beaten.

Ray Longo, who has coached upset fight plans before against better fighters, trained Chris Weidman for "Cocky" Anderson. Chris Weidman ignored the insults and looked for his one chance to catch Anderson showboating.  Well the backwards swivel only works so long if your feet are planted and this is a rookie mistake Anderson should know. He's caught many people flat footed.

How ironic a professional getting shown up with an amateur mistake. But that's what Anderson wanted