Anderson Silva suggests in-cage antics will remain: ‘I always have to be me’

(This story appears in today’s edition of USA TODAY.)

LAS VEGAS – In victory and defeat, former UFC middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva remains a mystery.

His loss in July to Chris Weidman, Silva’s first taste of defeat in more than seven years, left fans wondering whether the Brazilian superstar had taken the fight seriously.

At the time, Silva had more successful UFC title defenses (10) than the number of bouts Weidman had fought in his professional career (nine). And yet at UFC 162, it was Weidman’s devastating left hook that had Silva crashing to the canvas in one of the most shocking scenes in UFC history.

Silva, who has taunted opponents throughout his career — dropping his hands and relying on supreme footwork and speed to stay out of danger while creating opportunities to counter — was caught in such an act in the first meeting with Weidman. “The Spider” doesn’t see the antics as the reason for his loss but explains it as a slight technique issue that left him without enough range of motion to avoid the knockout blow.

But was there anything else to learn?

“There was one more thing: I learned that I have to be myself,” Silva tells USA TODAY Sports and MMAjunkie through a translator. “I always have to be me.”

Silva declined to elaborate on the statement. Was it the bizarre prefight buildup to the first fight, in which he proclaimed that a Weidman victory might actually be the best possible outcome? Or was it his actions inside the cage, which seemed more outlandish than usual?

With Silva, it’s impossible to know for sure. But ahead of the rematch, he insists the first fight will have no impact on the second.

“From the moment that a fight ends, that fight is in the past, win or lose,” Silva said. “Even when I was winning my fights, once it’s over, it’s over. It’s in the past, and you’ve got to look forward. It’s no different with this fight. When it was over, it was over, and now I’m looking forward to the next one.”

That moment comes Saturday night, when new champ Weidman (10-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) and Silva (33-5, 16-1) step into the cage for UFC 168, which takes place at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena and airs on pay-per-view (10 p.m. ET).

Silva will find himself in an unfamiliar position as the challenger, while Weidman looks to prove his first victory was no fluke.

UFC President Dana White has said he is as excited about the clash as he has been for any other bout in his 12-plus years in charge of the company.

But Silva is no stranger to this type of situation.

“It’s definitely a big fight,” Silva said. “It’s an important fight. It’s something people have been waiting to watch. They want confirmation that Chris is the real deal. But a fight is a fight.

“All that changes is the date and the opponent. The octagon is still the same, and the atmosphere is always the same.”

Silva doesn’t talk like a man whose career might hang in the balance, but at 38, it’s hard to imagine his next move should he lose again. As one of the greatest fighters in UFC history, sliding down the ranks and fighting a new crop of up-and-comers on a long road back to the title doesn’t seem likely.

Then there is the question of legacy. Widely regarded as perhaps the greatest martial artist of all time, is there risk of damaging that reputation should Weidman prove he’s the better fighter?

“I don’t think I have anything to prove to anyone, but I’m very motivated,” Silva said.

For more on UFC 168, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.