Anderson Silva, a former UFC middleweight champion, praises Charles Oliveira for his rise to prominence within MMA, attributing his popularity in Brazil to his hard work, persistence, and humble nature, while noting that Amanda Nunes, despite her achievements, did not receive widespread recognition in their home country.
In 2011, Anderson Silva became one of Brazil’s biggest sports stars, following a knockout victory over Vitor Belfort. This launched his successful tenure as UFC middleweight champion. Now, a decade later, Charles Oliveira is the proud successor of that spot. Oliveira, also known as ‘Do Bronx’, soared in popularity as he made his way to the UFC lightweight title in 2021. Silva, popularly called ‘The Spider’, still holds significant recognition within Brazil’s MMA, however, Oliveira’s rising fame has not faltered despite a challenging defeat to Islam Makhachev.
Silva acknowledged Oliveira’s hard work and determination. He spoke highly of Oliveira, praising his commitment, self-belief, stellar coaches and his sheer determination. Above all, he expressed his continuous support for Oliveira. The latter’s humility is one of the reasons cited for his widespread popularity in Brazil. On the other hand, Silva feels that Oliveira’s unexpected journey to success, which includes his tumultuous start in UFC, has made him an intriguing figure for MMA enthusiasts to follow.
In additions, Silva went on to laud Oliveira, emphasizing that he deserved all the respect and the high place he had attained in the sport. He expressed admiration for Oliveira’s achievements, including winning over crowds in ways many did not foresee. According to Silva, Charles deserves utmost respect and support, and he urged Brazil to cheer for him, as he represents the country at the highest level.
Meanwhile, two-division UFC champion Amanda Nunes who has an impressive career record exits her MMA career as a lesser-known figure in her native country, despite her in-cage accomplishments. Nunes herself believes there are several reasons why she did not resonate with Brazilians, however, she is at peace with it. In response to a question about this, Silva said it is important to understand that everyone has their own personal story and truth. He added that, like himself, all athletes fight to fulfill their own goals and not to prove anything to anyone. He concluded by offering his complete respect to Nunes, calling her a great warrior and an inspiration for upcoming athletes.