Why Anderson Silva cannot beat Chris Weidman

It's been more than a month and a half since the knockout heard around the world. Anderson Silva did his dance and woke up on his back. The opinions have flowed non-stop since Weidman's left fist connected flushly on "The Spider's" face. Silva's diehard fans declare stubbornly that he was clowning around which allowed Weidman the opportunity to land a lucky punch. While Weidman loyalists will testify that Silva always clowns his opponents and Weidman had the answer.

As often is the case, the truth can probably be found somewhere in the middle. Indeed Anderson Silva was playing the fool, and regardless of how refined your skills are, in the dangerous game of mixed martial arts, that puts one at risk. However, to be fair, Anderson Silva often does clown his opponents and it has never before hampered his ability to totally obliterate his opponent. So, what  gives? Is Chris Weidman just that lethal of a striker? Is Anderson Silva just finally falling victim to father time?

To answer this question let's examine the situation fully. Few will argue that Anderson Silva won the first round. Chris Weidman scored an early takedown and inflicted some damage on his accomplished foe. However Silva was eventually able to get to his feet, and because Weidman failed to even attempt another takedown, Anderson realized that he definitely had an advantage in the striking game...as he usually does.

It was only upon realizing this advantage that Silva started to showboat and taunt his opponent. He knew he was faster and his strikes were more accurate. However his mistake was underestimating Chris Weidman's punching power. In an interview about his first fight with Chael Sonnen, he made the interesting if not self-serving observation that Chael Sonnen had top position for much of the fight and was unable to finish him. A testament to Sonnen's lack of knock out power perhaps.

Chris Weidman is no Chael Sonnen though. Though Weidman's strikes are rudimentary when compared to that of highly versed striking artists such as Carlos Condit, Anthony Pettis or Anderson Silva himself, his punching power is certainly no joke. It is a safe bet that Anderson Silva would outstrike Chris Weidman if  he so chose. But he didn't. He danced, swayed and feigned being hurt. The problem with that was that Weidman timed him perfectly and made his punch count.

Not only did Chris Weidman beat Silva at his own game but he did it convincingly. However the truth that evades most fans is the particular reason why Anderson Silva was showboating. It wasn't merely that he "always does", rather it had more to do with goading Weidman into a kickboxing match. Silva knew all too well that Weidman was capable of grinding him out much like Sonnen did. The key difference being that Weidman was less likely to make the kind of mistakes that Sonnen does from top position that got him submitted.

So yes, when Silva and Weidman square off for a second time my hypothetical dollars will be on Chris Weidman. Not because Chris Weidman is the more complete fighter, because he isn't. But MMA is a match ups game and Weidman has Silva's number. I'm guessing he's going to call again.