Anderson Silva's historic UFC injury turns 11; episode marked the beginning of the 'Spider' crisis

Anderson's fracture (right) was one of the strongest and most striking scenes of 2013. Photo: UFC

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On December 28, 2013, the UFC witnessed a moment that still sends shivers down the spines of fans of the sport. Considered by many to be the greatest fighter in history, Anderson Silva faced Chris Weidman in a rematch for the middleweight belt (up to 83,9 kg), which had ended in defeat in the middle of the year. However, what everyone expected to be another night of brilliance for the 'Spider' turned into one of the most dramatic scenes ever seen inside the octagon.

The second round of the fight, up until that point, was still balanced, but with Anderson trying to regain control after the knockout he suffered months earlier. When the Brazilian threw a low kick with his left leg towards Weidman's shin, something unimaginable happened: his leg was brutally broken.

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What was supposed to be a rematch turned into a nightmare. 'Spider' fell to the ground and writhed in pain even after the middleweights came in, who took him to the hospital immediately. Weidman, in turn, didn't hold back and celebrated retaining his title — a fact that still causes him to be criticized by the Brazilian's fans.

the recovery of Anderson Silva It was long and painful. The surgery that placed rods and screws in the knee and ankle of his left leg was just the beginning of a process that, according to him, never had the same result. In later interviews, the fighter revealed that, after that episode, he was never the same again.

After the fracture, 'Spider' still had seven fights in the UFC, but was never the same again. His only victory after the accident came in 2017, when he defeated the American Derek Brunson, but the wins and performances began to decline until his retirement from the organization in 2020.

Interestingly, the Chris Weidman, who was responsible for this historic fracture, experienced a similar fate in 2021. In the fight against Uriah Hall, the 'All-American' also broke his leg in equally impressive fashion. He remains in the UFC, but comes from a delicate situation with only one victory in the last four fights.

STRONG IMAGE: See the moment Anderson Silva breaks his leg

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT#OnThisDay in 2013, Chris Weidman Defeated Anderson Silva following one of the most gruesome leg breaks in UFC history.

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— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) December 28, 2023