#4 Anderson ‘The Spider Clerk’ Silva
Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva is considered to be one of the best Mixed Martial Artists of all time, having held the UFC Middleweight championship for 7 years (2006-13) with a UFC record of 10-title defences to his name. Silva is one of the UFC’s most famous millionaires, however, his childhood and teenage life were the exact opposite of the lavish lifestyle that he leads today.
Growing up in abject poverty in Sau Paulo, Brazil, ‘Spider’ started training in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu at a young age, even though he’s stated that during those days BJJ was considered to be an activity exclusive to the rich and elite.
Nevertheless, Silva watched the rich kids in his neighbourhood roll around on the mat and would go on to replicate their BJJ sparring sessions by himself and eventually with other sparring partners. After training in Taekwondo, Capoeira and Muay Thai in his late-teens, Silva began working at a local McDonalds outlet and also as a file clerk an adult. Here’s the Spider’s emotional speech after victory over Derek Brunson at UFC 208-
In fact, the MMA legend is so attached to his former employers that to this date he follows his tradition of cheating on his fight-week diet with a McDonald's burger. Mac and Cheese for the win! Up next we take a look at an old Silva foe and his unlikely background...
