The title read something like “Anderson Silva Back In The UFC For An Easy Win”. It was a headline that suggested he’d recently re-signed with the promotion, just as I’d read about Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in real life before falling asleep, which, as a fan; Silva is my favorite fighter; instantly made me click the link to found out more.

It was a video that showed a man in a business suit; a greasy-haired Jacob The Jeweler type. It might’ve even been him. He was sitting behind a desk at what I assumed was his place of business, which could’ve been an MMA gym with all the faceless fighters I saw there; one of which was supposedly scheduled to fight Silva.

It flashbacked to a clip of him trying to fight another man; not Silva; near the entrance of that same business. The front walls were tall and windowed like Firstar Bank in Fort Smith. He was being held back by other men. He looked young; they said he was 20 or 21; and tough. He was average-sized but with a muscular build.

I was concerned not so much for old Silva’s safety but his record. I didn’t want him to come back just to get another loss. The “Easy” bit in the headline made me think it would be, as the pro wrestling world puts it, a jobber, but he looked like he’d knock Silva out or take him down and submit him quickly. Silva apparently didn’t agree.

Silva said with confidence that he’d “beat him”. I think he even said he’ll do it “easy”. I think he was talking to the business man via FaceTime (video) or something. I couldn’t see him, but I could hear him as I magically became part of the scene, standing there in that first (front) room of the business with the presumed owner.

He had a grin on his face as he started singing about Silva coming back to fight. I don’t remember the words but they suggested he wanted Silva to “win” and ended with a line to promote his business. We, his small audience, giggled in response. “That’s the only reason you want him to win,” I said, emphasizing “That”. They laughed again.

By then I’d realized that the link I’d clicked was, as the internet world would say, a clickbait title. What Anderson Silva said about the young fighter was real as was the little scuffle, but they weren’t scheduled to fight and Silva didn’t have a new UFC contract. The 49-year-old (Silva) was probably just joking about beating him easily.

2024 December 28