I have been watching MMA for almost 15 years. Anderson's streak was awesome at the time, but hasn't aged well. Uriah Hall is a better striker than Griffin and I hate to say it, but Franklin as well. The fighters nowadays are a lot better than fighters back then I'm. I see what you mean and you make a good case, I just think when people talk about Anderson's streak they get caught up in nostalgia. Imo, prime Anderson loses to Whittaker, Romero, Jacare, Mousasi, Adesanya, and possibly prime Melvin Manhoef.
I think what's happening in MMA is similar to what happened in boxing and no one wants to admit it. Everyone says the GOAT boxer is Ali or Robinson when they would get starched by fighters now.
True!
"The fighters nowadays are a lot better than fighters back then I'm"
Silva had 10 UFC title defenses
Moose has no title bouts, wins or defenses in the UFC.
That pretty much explains it. I like Moose and I wish he could of stayed in the UFC. I think eventually he would of won the MW title.
Again, quality of opponents...
Silva defended against:
- Marquandt - decent fighter, but many losses, even in his prime, clearly beatable
- Rich - top fighter
- Hendo - top fighter
- Lutter - come on!
- Cote - cote on!
- Irwin - come on!
- Leites - come on!
- Maia - one of the shittiest fights in UFC
- Chael - decent fighter who lost because of his own poor fight IQ
- Vitor - I know Vitor has many fans here, but the man had many losses, including in his prime
- Okami - good record, not the best quality wins
Don't get me wrong, Silva defended against some good fighters (and against not so good fighters), but not undefeated monsters.
And I don't see how his wins are better than Mousasi's, just because he defended and Mousasi didn't. Mousasi has Jacare, Manhoeuf, Hunt, Goodridge, Sobral, OSP, Latifi, Munoz, Vitor, Leites, Weidman, Hall, Lombard, Rory, Shlemenko, Hendo and a few others. Same, some top fighters, some good ones, some not that good but decent...
Both beat Leites and Vitor, but wow, Silva defended against them... that matters so much!
Mousasi is almost 10 years younger, has more wins, less losses, never popped for steroids, fought at MW, LHW, HW, OW you name it.
Also, it amuses me that people are calling GSP a coward because he didn't go up in weight to fight Silva, but they don;t say shit about Silva not challenging Jones, an undefeated monster lacking from his resume...