Vanderlei Silva

Report Last Updated - 12/01
Birthdate - 7/3/76
5'11" 199 lbs. - Curitiba, Brazil
Team - Chute Boxe Academy
Style - Muay Thai

Career Highlights -
- Defeats Eugene Jackson at IVC 10
- Beats Guy Mezger at Pride 10 by TKO
- Scores a decision victory over Dan Handerson at Pride 12
- Defeats the undefeated Kazushi Sakuraba at Pride 13
- Beats Saku in the rematch for the Middleweight championship at Pride 18

Striking - Vanderlei Silva sees himself as a great multi-dimensional striker and he is certainly that and more. He is very dangerous in the clinch with his elbows and knees, and the latter is perhaps his greatest weapon. From the standing postion, he throws good high and leg kicks and has devestating punch barrages. If Vanderlei can get an opponent pinned down, he is vicious with punches to the face, knees to the head, and will stand up and reign in with brutal stomps.

Wrestling - Silva is strong and lanky, which makes him a perfect kickboxer. His body helps even more in Vale Tudo, where he has to sprawl to avoid shoots and hold guys in while hitting knees out of the clinch.

Hooking - Aside from choking out Bob Schrijber, Vanderlei Silva has never gone for a hold victory. This one was presented before him and he did it, but it was just Brazilian instincts to choke from a rear mount.

Strengthes - Silva is an awesome striker and perhaps no one else can match his technique, strength, and viciousness. Many of his Chute Boxe peers are excellent, but he is definately the man. "The Axe Murderer" is the complete striker and it has made him a huge star.

Weaknesses - Silva's losses are limited and are all indecisive. He has shown that when grounded, he is not very effective. Silva is a striker and prefers to stand, but his grappling and submission skills are very limited.

Look - Vanderlei Silva is one of the most intimidating looking fighter today and his pre-match staredowns are unbelievable. He is trim and slender with an ape-like look from his body hair and broad shoulders to his wide jaw and stony eyes.

Outlook - The future is very bright for the world's most elite striker. He has done wonders with his fists, feet, and knees and has become one of the greatest middleweights to date in a mere five years. His victories over Mezger, Henderson, and Sakuraba were huge and showed he was a good enough striker that he could counteract these very capable grapplers. Silva seems to be just hitting his stride and he may be able to establish himself as an MMA legend.