Adesanya dethrones Silva: Reinier de Ridder crowns ‘Stylebender’ the true Middleweight GOAT

UFC middleweight contender Reinier de Ridder has sparked heated debate in the MMA world after boldly ranking Israel Adesanya above Anderson Silva in the conversation for the division’s greatest fighter of all time.

Silva, long revered as the gold standard at 185 pounds, held the UFC middleweight title for a record-breaking seven years and defended it ten times during his reign from 2006 to 2013. For over a decade, fans and fighters alike viewed “The Spider” as untouchable in the GOAT debate. But according to de Ridder, times have changed.

In a recent interview, the Dutchman explained that while Silva’s dominance cannot be denied, Adesanya’s ability to compete at the very highest level against multiple generations of elite fighters gives him the edge.

“Israel has fought killers in their prime, across different eras, and still came out on top,” de Ridder said. “He’s defended his belt against champions, former champions, and rising contenders. His skillset is so versatile, and he adapted quickly to challenges that Silva never faced.”

Adesanya’s UFC career, which began in 2018, has been nothing short of spectacular. He captured the middleweight belt in just his seventh fight with the promotion, dethroned Robert Whittaker in stunning fashion, and went on to defend his title multiple times against names like Paulo Costa, Marvin Vettori, Jared Cannonier, and Alex Pereira.

Israel Adesanya. PHOTO/X/@AfricaFolder

While Silva’s highlight reel is unmatched—with iconic finishes against Forrest Griffin, Chael Sonnen, and Vitor Belfort—Adesanya’s resume, de Ridder argues, is stronger in terms of the level of opposition and the modern competitive landscape.

The comments have divided fans, with many purists quick to defend Silva’s legacy. Social media lit up with fiery debates, some accusing de Ridder of disrespecting a pioneer, while others applauded him for recognizing Adesanya’s impact on today’s era of MMA.

UFC legend Daniel Cormier once hinted at a similar view, saying that Adesanya fought in a “shark tank” division compared to Silva’s relatively thinner competition at the time. De Ridder’s endorsement has only reignited that narrative.

Whether fans agree or not, one thing is clear: the middleweight GOAT debate is far from settled. For now, Anderson Silva may hold the history books, but Adesanya is writing his own legacy in real time—one that even fellow fighters like Reinier de Ridder believe eclipses the great “Spider.”