Anderson Silva's taunting and subsequent knockout by Chris Weidman during UFC 162 was one of the more absurd moments in MMA. UFC Welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre predicted an upset by Weidman, but he never anticipated it happening the way it did.
The former Middleweight champion on Saturday appeared not to take his opponent seriously. During the second round, Silva brazenly dropped his hands and dared Weidman to take his best shot. Weidman's first swings missed as Silva bobbed and weaved, but a fourth swing, a left hook, caught the Brazilian in mid-taunt and sent the champion falling to the mat.
Weidman pounced on Silva and sealed the victory with unabated punches to the Brazilian's head. The official ended the match, and Weidman became the new Middleweight champion.
The way Silva lost his title was more surprising than the outcome. St-Pierre shared his surprise with PokerListings.com on Sunday during the World Series of Poker tournament (via SB Nation).
"I predicted Chris Weidman was going to win, but I didn't think he was going to win the way that he won," St-Pierre said. "I thought he was going to win on the ground, with ground and pound, or maybe some submission. But he won with a knockout, a beautiful knockout, standing up. I think Silva got caught. I think Silva is still the best in the world, but he just got caught. It happens to everyone."
Silva is known to taunt opponents.
"The thing that Silva does, he's very good at getting into his opponent's mind," St-Pierre said. "I don't think it's much of a lack of respect. I think it's more that he tries to get into his opponent's mind and plays mind-games with his opponents."
The taunting hadn't cost Silva before - prior to Saturday, Silva had successfully defended his title 10 straight times. St-Pierre said the loss didn't diminish Silva's reputation as a fighter, but maybe the former champion acted too flippant against Weidman.
"That almost worked. It almost worked that time, but he got caught. It doesn't mean that it was not a good strategy for him. Maybe he should not have [done it] that much, but he just got caught, you know?
"You always recognize a great champion by how they come back from a loss, and I know Silva came back from a loss before, and from adversity in his fight. He's the greatest of all time, for sure."
A rematch, despite Silva sounding uninterested, appears likely. While St-Pierre ranks Silva as one of the best, he doesn't see Silva reclaiming the title.
"Depending if Anderson Silva takes a rematch, I believe (Weidman) can win a rematch again."
