Brett Garamella

The Pros: The Spider

Many mixed martial arts experts consider Anderson "The Spider" Silva the greatest living pound-for-pound fighter. Silva began working at McDonald's in his native Brazil at age 17. Six years later he quit the job to become a professional mixed martial arts fighter. "I feel the experience I had working at McDonald's was an excellent one," says Silva. "I feel that the discipline, the responsibility, and dealing with various situations in my life and as a professional fighter, McDonald's was a big part in helping me get there." Despite his humble and easy-going demeanor, Silva is perhaps the most feared fighter since joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in April 2006, winning all his fights in the first or second rounds.

On Oct. 25, 2008, Silva successfully defended his UFC middleweight title against Patrick "The Predator" Cote at the All State Arena in Rosemont, IL. It was the first UFC event in the Chicago area since the Illinois athletic commission lifted its ban on mixed martial arts on July 1, 2008, citing the increase in safety precautions the sport has made.

Anderson "The Spider" Silva appears on a JumboTron screen prior to his UFC 90 title defense at the All State Arena in Rosemont, IL, on Oct. 25, 2008.
   
Anderson "The Spider" Silva appears on a JumboTron screen prior to his UFC 90 title defense at the All State Arena in Rosemont, IL, on Oct. 25, 2008.
   
Anderson "The Spider" Silva appears on a JumboTron screen prior to his UFC 90 title defense at the All State Arena in Rosemont, IL, on Oct. 25, 2008.
     
  
Anderson "The Spider" Silva talks to reporters at the Hilton Chicago O'Hare Airport hotel on Oct. 22, 2008, three days prior to his UFC 90 title defense. Silva, from Brazil, uses his translator Ed Soares (left) during interviews.
   
Anderson "The Spider" Silva talks to reporters at the Hilton Chicago O'Hare Airport hotel on Oct. 22, 2008, three days prior to his UFC 90 title defense. Silva, from Brazil, uses his translator Ed Soares (left) during interviews.
   
Anderson "The Spider" Silva (left) and Patrick Cote (right) bow while UFC President Dana White watches during the UFC 90 weigh-ins at the Chicago Theatre on Oct. 24, 2008. Both fighters made weight for their 185-pound championship bout.
     
  
Dana White (center) speaks to the media while Anderson "The Spider" Silva (left) and Patrick "The Predator" Cote (right) sit in silence during a press conference following their middleweight championship bout at the All State Arena in Rosemont, IL, on Oct. 25, 2008. Silva won the fight, but viewers weren't happy with the fighters' performance.