UFC 126 Silva vs Belfort: Stats Tell the Story
by Nate Wilcox on Feb 3, 2011 2:47 PM EST
in UFC Analysis
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When UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva and former light heavyweight champ Vitor Belfort meet at UFC 126 it will unquestionably be a battle of two of the best Brazilian left-handed strikers in UFC history.
But other than that, they have little in common. Silva is a supremely gifted mimic who can seamlessly move from style to style in one sequence. Belfort is a boxing-based striker who throws some of the fastest, hardest straight punches in the sport.
CompuStrike looks at both fighters and the numbers tell the tale:
Here's their breakdown:
CompuStrike Notes
- (Silva's 12 UFC fights - 10 Belfort fights)
- Silva landed twice as many total strikes per fight than Belfort
- Silva landed 10 more leg strikes per fight, attempting 15 more per fight than Belfort
- They combined to attempt just 9 takedowns (Silva 5 of 6 - Belfort 2 of 3) and were successful on 7 in 21 combined fights tracked by CompuStrike
- Silva outlanded his 11 previous opponents 2-1 in total strikes prior to Sonnen fight
- Silva's 11 previous opponents were successful on just 7 of 33 takedown attempts, Sonnen hit on 3 of 6
- Sonnen landed 289 total strikes. Silva was hit with just 208 total strikes in his previous 11 UFC fights combined
- Belfort's last three opponents, (all at 195lbs or lower), were successful on just 1 of 11 takedown attempts (9%). Heavyweight opponents hit on 43% (12 of 28)
- Belfort threw 18 more arm strikes per fight in his last 3 fights (at 195 or lower) than in his previous 7 fights at heavyweight
- Belfort was on the feet for nearly 11:00 of a possible 12:00 in his last 3 fights (at 195 lbs or lower). He was on the ground for 56% of his previous 7 fights at heavyweight
They also point out that Belfort has been inactive for 504 days -- the longest layoff of his pro career. Cage rust kills.
The biggest revelation of the CompuStrike stats is how much of an anomaly the Sonnen fight was for Silva. Was he injured? Is he aging? We'll know a lot more on Saturday.
Two other stats I want to mention FightMetric has Anderson Silva at second place on the all time "Knockdowns Landed" stat with 12 (Chuck Liddell is the leader with 14) and far and away at #1 for "Significant Strikes Landed" with an incredible 68.4% rate.
Some things the stats reveal confirm what we already knew -- Belfort doesn't kick much, Silva kicks a lot.
The thing the stats obscure rather than revealing is this -- Belfort might land fewer power shots but I would argue that he punches harder than Silva and gets the KO faster.
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Based on the change in his appearance between then and now
anyone else think that Belfort had some chemical help in his early ufc days?
it was stated in another post, his former trainer was a body builder and steroid user so take what you want from that
for sure
he has tested positive, and there was rumors way back that he was taking time off because he had developed a heart condition from too much juice (total speculation in my opinion because I think it was around the time his sister was kidnapped).
His trainer died of a massive heart attack
might have been the cause of the rumor.
"I'll rock your body with big nasty hooks!"
"I am very confident this fight can go either way"
by SpL on Feb 3, 2011 5:38 PM EST up reply actions
This was a few years ago
Vitor looked massive back then as opposed to the way he looks today
"I am very confident this fight can go either way"
by SpL on Feb 3, 2011 7:06 PM EST up reply actions
Not being sarcastic, but you’re saying that based upon the premise that Belfort strikes “harder” than Silva…
… He should win by knockout tomorrow evening?
Even though stats show that Silva’s striking ability and defense is far superior than Belfort or any of the opponents he has faced in the past?
Semper Fi
"BRING GERALD HARRIS BACK TO THE UFC!!!"
I think the point is just that Belfort tends to land less strikes because he knocks his opponents out faster… you can’t keep hitting a guy to bump up your strike count when your arms already being raised. That could be irrelevant on Saturday, but it’s just a counter to the idea that Silva lands more strikes in an equal amount of ring time—he probably doesn’t, he just fights longer fights, in general.
what I dont get is the assumption that Vitor hits harder than Anderson. Unless we have side by side comparisons on a psi meter, I dont see where this comes from. Vitors never been a one hitter quiter puncher like Chuck. He’ll get the knockdown and follow up on the ground to get the TKO. When has he ever landed a clean punch and walk away, end of fight?
I don’t necessarily think he hits harder than Anderson if both land a clean shot (though he might be more accurate with his punches), but even though he doesn’t one-punch KO guys, he does knock guys down and has them dazed enough to follow up for the TKO. Whether that’s because the initial knockdown blow is hard or because he just jumps right into the ground and pound faster is up for debate. Either way, when he does KO someone, he tends to do it in round 1.
Note
Silva faced a number of strong punchers, his chin has been tested. Did he go down and out? Well, let’s see what Belfort can do.
I tend to be biased towards strikers . . . exciting strikers.
- - - - -
VEe is ANIMated!
by VeeisAnimated on Feb 3, 2011 3:42 PM EST up reply actions
but they don't have refined striking
They both have power but they throw looping sloppy punches, they do not have as crisp striking as Vitor in anyway nor are they even close to as accurate as Vitor.
Its nuts to me that out of all the opponents Silva is faced… Chael geninuely dropped him 2 or 3 times… I’m talkin’ flat on his ass, no legs… He was feelin’ tipssay..
Not really
They were flash knockdowns, and light ones at that. Sure, he ended up on his ass, but he did not appear to suffer from a significant disruption of his equilibrium.
"All the time he's boxing, he's thinking. All the time he was thinking, I was hitting him." - Jack Dempsey
www.badlefthook.com
by Drunken cutman on Feb 3, 2011 6:51 PM EST up reply actions
From what you’re saying it looks like you didn’t watch that fight.
"...good or bad, handsome or ugly, rich or poor they are all equal now."
by dancingChicken on Feb 4, 2011 10:38 AM EST up reply actions
He has faced some strong punchers, yes
but he never really got hit by them. So I wouldn’t go so far as to say that he has a well tested chin. Those punches from Sonnen were the cleanest he’s been hit with in a while.
"But I was like "I don't know how they do things where you guys are from, but I dont think monogamy is legal in this country."
@anonymousbungi
All I know is that Jorge Rivera will tell you in a heartbeat . . . Silva has a strong chin. I’m almost sure that Chael Sonnen will concur.
I tend to be biased towards strikers . . . exciting strikers.
- - - - -
VEe is ANIMated!
by VeeisAnimated on Feb 4, 2011 1:55 AM EST up reply actions
Understood.
However, instances like that can also be said about Silva.
The fact that Silva has NOT loss a contest since April of 2006 should mean something in one’ assessment, right? I mean, the closest thing to someone beating him was a steroid-driven Sonnen end of last year.
Semper Fi
"BRING GERALD HARRIS BACK TO THE UFC!!!"
by ChicagoMarine on Feb 3, 2011 4:17 PM EST up reply actions
But, he didn't.
… Annnnnnd, it took a ’Roided Sonnen to put Silva in danger.
Semper Fi
"BRING GERALD HARRIS BACK TO THE UFC!!!"
by ChicagoMarine on Feb 3, 2011 4:29 PM EST up reply actions
backwards day homie
joke from earlier comment
Yeah, no I was being completely sarcastic man. Andy’s my hero number 1 if u havent already guessed.
Ahhhh! I get it!
I’m a Marine…
… We’re not always the most intelligent.
Semper Fi
"BRING GERALD HARRIS BACK TO THE UFC!!!"
by ChicagoMarine on Feb 4, 2011 4:52 PM EST up reply actions
I totally agree.
Here’s more assumptions for you.
- Belfort has faster hands than Silva. yeah, prove it. You can’t.
- Bader’s wrestling is better than Jon Jones. Prove it. I thought Matt Hamill’s wrestling was better than Jones’ wrestling.
- People assumed Koscheck’s wrestling pedigree was going be an advantage against GSP, in their first fight.
- Belfort is stronger than Silva. Well Forrest Griffin was suppposed to be a never-quit, bigger, stronger fighter than Silva at 205lbs.
I tend to be biased towards strikers . . . exciting strikers.
- - - - -
VEe is ANIMated!
by VeeisAnimated on Feb 3, 2011 3:40 PM EST up reply actions
This ^
“Anyone can lose in MMA.”
Semper Fi
"BRING GERALD HARRIS BACK TO THE UFC!!!"
by ChicagoMarine on Feb 3, 2011 4:07 PM EST up reply actions
Well they’re definitely each facing the best striker they’ve ever fought in the UFC. I’m leaning towards Andy, but you just never know with Belfort
Sometimes I just want to give it all up and become a handsome billionaire.
I'm a Tweeter - http://twitter.com/Tyler_Sawyer
They’re both fighting the best strikers either have faced in the Octagon, but Vitor is facing the best fighter ever in the Octagon.
Contributor at cagepages.com Come check us out.
Head Kick Legend
The biggest revelation of the CompuStrike stats is how much of an anomaly the Sonnen fight was for Silva. Was he injured? Is he aging?
Silva spending more than 20 minutes on his back never crossed your mind?
by edtSD on Feb 3, 2011 2:51 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Spending 20 minutes on his back is the proximal cause for the stats. The real question is why he spent 20 minutes on his back. An injury or simply aging are two possible reasons.
Or maybe he wanted to hold him in a low guard
so later he could hold him in a high guard and happy meal him
Career MMA stats like this really suffer from too small a sample size
Contributor at cagepages.com Come check us out.
Head Kick Legend
by Neil Manich on Feb 3, 2011 2:59 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
This
12 and 10 fights is nowhere near a large enough sample size to draw any statistical conclusions.
Not when there are so many variables
that difference in talent level and wins and losses is vast.
"I'll rock your body with big nasty hooks!"
Compustrike does not understand the sport of MMA
And those stats do not tell any story. What use is analysis that is based on how many strikes a fighter lands per fight? Don’t they realize that fights last different amounts of time? As Nate points out, landing fewer strikes might make me a better striker because I am finishing opponents faster.
I’ve had little respect for Compustrike since the KJ Noons debacle, but this is worse. It’s easier to excuse mistakes than ineptitude.
I don't get it
How will we know Saturday if Silva’s last fight was an anomoly? Belfort isn’t a wrestler. You can’t exactly maintain a high striking percentage when you are laying on your back. Just sayin…
We can see if Silva’s reflexes have slowed – is he dodging well? Does he recover from getting hit?
The Machiavellian.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
Reasoning will never make a man correct an ill opinion, which by reasoning he never acquired. -Jonathan Swift
by Scott C. Broussard on Feb 3, 2011 3:12 PM EST up reply actions
i'm not sure of their wrestling credentials but...
Is Chael Sonnen considered a better wrestler than Dan Henderson in the wrestling world?
According to King Mo
Yes, he is.
"Okay, I stay clever like Mayweather, will lay leather 'til your face sever, one of the greatest ever." -- Big Daddy Kane
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. fan since 7/12/97 — 41-0-0 (25 KOs)
Boxing Top 5: Mayweather, Dawson, Martinez, JM Marquez, Cotto
MMA Top 5: Penn, Rampage, The Spider, Yasubey, Mayhem
K-1 Top 5: Overeem, Jienotsu, Masato, Buakaw, Zambidis
by Ryan Tical on Feb 3, 2011 3:54 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I knew that
but I am not sure of Chael`s credentials
here's more
The 33-year-old Sonnen was an NCAA Division I All-American for the now-defunct Oregon Ducks wrestling program, placing 8th in the 190-pound bracket at the 1998 NCAAs in Cleveland. He also was a two-time University National Champion in Greco Roman wrestling, and an alternate for the U.S. Greco team for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In 2002, Sonnen competed in the pilot event of RealProWrestling, a hybrid form of amateur wrestling in which the competitors were paid.
"I'll rock your body with big nasty hooks!"
and being Canadian
I really have no clue as far as all the tourneys and different stuff are ranked excluding the olympics since we don`t really ever have any coverage or hear about it up here. I went to 3 different high schools during my education (moving around) and only 1 of the 3 offered wrestling and it wasn`t popular at all. Probably didn`t help that the school sucked and got pummeled at every showing.
Most Americans don't really care either
MMA is a strange niche wrestlers have found.
"I'll rock your body with big nasty hooks!"
Its huge in P.A.
"True strength is not always shown through victory. Stand up, try again and display strength of heart." - Rickson Gracie
"Wanderlei eventually got to his feet and stalked Fujita like a Japanese octopus in an all-female prison." - Sean Baby Cracked.com
by the-gentle-way on Feb 3, 2011 5:19 PM EST up reply actions
Not like football
In Oregon and California, its not big at all.
My uncle Booker T(real name) was state champ here in 2002, he’s not that good.
"I'll rock your body with big nasty hooks!"
Oregon and California
are not where I live.
Where I live wrestling is the 3rd biggest H.S. sport.
Learn JiuJitsu, it's fun.
Dude, your uncle was the FIVE TIME WCW champion! Who gives a shit about some state championship?
Still a Beer Monster.
http://www.instrength.com
by Tim Burke on Feb 3, 2011 5:30 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I realized how funny that sounds after typing it
My uncle had convinced me to wrestle his 135lb jet black brother I’ve never met named Booker T.
After wrestling with him(and doing okay), he then explained that this ripped little obsidian man was the state champ a couple years earlier. Which would explain why he made him promise not to slam me.
"I'll rock your body with big nasty hooks!"
Football and basketball are both a lot bigger. Even baseball.
For example, how many matches do they show on TV?
"I'll rock your body with big nasty hooks!"
On FSN they show all the state tournys.
And the regionals.
You might not know where to look.
Learn JiuJitsu, it's fun.
Oh I know
But they show, maybe 100 times more baseball, basketball and football games.
"I'll rock your body with big nasty hooks!"
I never see HS baseball games on FSN.
Or many basketball games for that matter.
Learn JiuJitsu, it's fun.
I mean total
In total, they show probably 100 times more of the 3 other sports on TV.
"I'll rock your body with big nasty hooks!"
I wouldn't know.
But wrestling gets alot of TV out here.
They also cover the match totals on the local TV news.
Learn JiuJitsu, it's fun.
That's cool.
I know in a lot of places they get no credit and a lot of people make fun of wresting.
"I'll rock your body with big nasty hooks!"
King Mo is a Free style purist
He doesnt like Greco guys. I think Dan is better at greco and Sonnen is better at free style.
"True strength is not always shown through victory. Stand up, try again and display strength of heart." - Rickson Gracie
"Wanderlei eventually got to his feet and stalked Fujita like a Japanese octopus in an all-female prison." - Sean Baby Cracked.com
by the-gentle-way on Feb 3, 2011 5:18 PM EST up reply actions
I know what I`ve seen in mma
I was just curious as far as their actual background went as who was considered the better wrestler when it came to wrestling. I understand that it only matters in mma and IMO GSP would be the best mma wrestler with no background in wrestling but I was just curious because I was wondering who was better at the amateur level and if Chael was better at implementing it in mma or if he has always been ahead of Hendo when it came to wrestling.
Chael uses it way more in MMA. Hendo uses it more to keep people on their feet. Greco plays right into Silvas style of fighting, whereas freestyle is his achilles heel. On paper Hendo has the better pedigree beeing an actual olympian, but Chael was an alternate in Greco as well which isn’t to shabby itself.
sorry didn't necessarily mean better wrestler
I know he relies on his wrestling for offense a lot more than Hendo… Hendo fell in love with his looping bombs many moons ago.
Holy crap!
•Sonnen landed 289 total strikes. Silva was hit with just 208 total strikes in his previous 11 UFC fights combined
This really jumps off the screen.
Learn JiuJitsu, it's fun.
You can’t just throw out a set of stats because you don’t like them. They have to be factored in everyone gets caught chael. Was hittin him on the feet and on the ground it happens. Even though he was juicing and andeerson was hurt the fight still happened you can’t toss out the results
"This mother Fucker next to me is wearing foot warmers? Its like 60 degrees out here." Joe Rogan
by Bobillarious on Feb 3, 2011 5:55 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Belfort doesn’t kick much, Silva kicks a lot.
What better way to keep an opponent at a perfect distance than with leg kicks.
This fight will be interesting.
I tend to be biased towards strikers . . . exciting strikers.
- - - - -
VEe is ANIMated!
Anderson won risk doing kicks...or shouldn't.
Vitor will take the kick and show Anderson some of that ‘VitorFit’ for that title win.
"Okay, I stay clever like Mayweather, will lay leather 'til your face sever, one of the greatest ever." -- Big Daddy Kane
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. fan since 7/12/97 — 41-0-0 (25 KOs)
Boxing Top 5: Mayweather, Dawson, Martinez, JM Marquez, Cotto
MMA Top 5: Penn, Rampage, The Spider, Yasubey, Mayhem
K-1 Top 5: Overeem, Jienotsu, Masato, Buakaw, Zambidis
by Ryan Tical on Feb 3, 2011 3:51 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Try to catch that:
"...good or bad, handsome or ugly, rich or poor they are all equal now."
by dancingChicken on Feb 3, 2011 4:37 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
You know what? Fuck this stat crap.
I say we hop on “EA Sports MMA”, download AS & Belfort and handle this shit like men.
Winner gets Gina Carano. Loser gets Cyborg.
"Okay, I stay clever like Mayweather, will lay leather 'til your face sever, one of the greatest ever." -- Big Daddy Kane
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. fan since 7/12/97 — 41-0-0 (25 KOs)
Boxing Top 5: Mayweather, Dawson, Martinez, JM Marquez, Cotto
MMA Top 5: Penn, Rampage, The Spider, Yasubey, Mayhem
K-1 Top 5: Overeem, Jienotsu, Masato, Buakaw, Zambidis
by Ryan Tical on Feb 3, 2011 3:48 PM EST via mobile reply actions 2 recs
I didn't say WHICH Cyborg. ;-)
"Okay, I stay clever like Mayweather, will lay leather 'til your face sever, one of the greatest ever." -- Big Daddy Kane
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. fan since 7/12/97 — 41-0-0 (25 KOs)
Boxing Top 5: Mayweather, Dawson, Martinez, JM Marquez, Cotto
MMA Top 5: Penn, Rampage, The Spider, Yasubey, Mayhem
K-1 Top 5: Overeem, Jienotsu, Masato, Buakaw, Zambidis
by Ryan Tical on Feb 3, 2011 4:07 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Why no Pac in your boxing top 5?
Learn JiuJitsu, it's fun.
http://www.galsguidetomma.com/2011/2/1/1968739/nick-diaz-as-a-shorty
Pac is waiting for May to get old before he fights
Typical Roach/Top Rank M.O.
Roach didn’t want anything from Shane when he came off that Margo win — infact he wanted Shane to drop weight.
Now, Shane — one loss; one draw to Sergio Mora in a lackluster affair. TopRank sees it’s time to retire a future HoF. Only makes Pac look better.
Roach knows Pac has nothing for Floyd. He’s waiting for that ‘weak’, ‘mentally exhausted’ Floyd coming off a trial and no training to decide it’s time to fight.
"Okay, I stay clever like Mayweather, will lay leather 'til your face sever, one of the greatest ever." -- Big Daddy Kane
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. fan since 7/12/97 — 41-0-0 (25 KOs)
Boxing Top 5: Mayweather, Dawson, Martinez, JM Marquez, Cotto
MMA Top 5: Penn, Rampage, The Spider, Yasubey, Mayhem
K-1 Top 5: Overeem, Jienotsu, Masato, Buakaw, Zambidis
by Ryan Tical on Feb 3, 2011 7:47 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Ryan, People have really short memories
“Shane came to the gym twice to ask me to let him fight Manny,” Roach says. “I told him no both times, and both times for the same two reasons: First, there isn’t enough money there, and second, you’re too good a fighter.”
Source: http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/02/sports/la-sp-dwyre-pacquiao2-2010feb02/2
Now that things have changed, we will get to see Shane Mosley versus Manny Pacquiao on ShowTime.
I tend to be biased towards strikers . . . exciting strikers.
- - - - -
VEe is ANIMated!
by VeeisAnimated on Feb 4, 2011 2:05 AM EST up reply actions
Isn't this selling Machida short?
it will unquestionably be a battle of the two best Brazilian left-handed strikers in UFC history.
Its gotta at least be questionable. Machida’s UFC record is a lot more impressive to me.
"I'll rock your body with big nasty hooks!"
Its Just flat wrong.
Machida would kill vitor.
"True strength is not always shown through victory. Stand up, try again and display strength of heart." - Rickson Gracie
"Wanderlei eventually got to his feet and stalked Fujita like a Japanese octopus in an all-female prison." - Sean Baby Cracked.com
by the-gentle-way on Feb 3, 2011 5:22 PM EST up reply actions
The article says
When UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva and former light heavyweight champ Vitor Belfort meet at UFC 126 it will unquestionably be a battle of the two best Brazilian left-handed strikers in UFC history.
Its just not true. Machida is way better IMO and his record is much better as well.
"I'll rock your body with big nasty hooks!"
aight…Machida has shown lately he isn’t as invincible as we first thought.. A really good crisp striker who’s aggressive and you see Machida in trouble often.. but I agree he’s got an awesome skillset. Lots of kicks, straight punches, sump, bjj….
Just look at record
Again the article says “unquestionably be a battle of the two best Brazilian left-handed strikers in UFC history.”
How is Machida not in that discussion? Need I remind you he’s lost twice. Ever.
"I'll rock your body with big nasty hooks!"
I’m not gonna go to and fro with ya man.. I get it. You think he’s one of the best left handers out there. Right on. After Jones is done with Bader, he’ll fuck up Machida.. Lyoto has lost a lot of luster in my eyes.
Are you joking?
So I come with actual facts to back a claim you argued against and that’s your response?
We were talking about the greatest left handed Brazilian strikers in UFC history(which is comically specific to begin with). No matter how you look at it, Machida is higher on the list than Vitor. Even if you don’t think so, he’s still in the discussion.
Lyoto has lost a lot of luster in my eyes.
That shows what type of fan you are. That’s so disrespectful to the fighter to think that way on so many levels.
Who has he lost to? How did he fight? He did he come back? Oh, well. I guess I’ll just jump on and off bandwagon’s as soon as someone has a rough stretch.
Vitor should be terrible in your eyes, seeing as he’s got 8 losses and quit in nearly all of them.
"I'll rock your body with big nasty hooks!"
by TheFilt on Feb 3, 2011 6:03 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
true story
"True strength is not always shown through victory. Stand up, try again and display strength of heart." - Rickson Gracie
"Wanderlei eventually got to his feet and stalked Fujita like a Japanese octopus in an all-female prison." - Sean Baby Cracked.com
by the-gentle-way on Feb 3, 2011 6:07 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
It’s a journalistic take on two fighters man.. Get the fuck over it… Journalists aren’t always right.. They use language which indicates ‘certainties’ where there may actually be none,such as “unquestionably”. You’ve questioned his take, and I commend you for it..but how much longer should I respond to your spiel?
I know somebody who can answer the question for us.
Hey Rich, who’s the best lefty Brazilian striker?
Gee Rich, that didn’t really answer the question. Thanks anyways dude.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
by pdl on Feb 3, 2011 9:02 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
I meant no disrespect whatsoever
I just thought you forgot about Lyoto.
"I'll rock your body with big nasty hooks!"
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