Anderson Silva has become some sort of real-life comic book hero in Brazil. Nicknamed ‘The Spider’, after his favourite character Spider-Man (of which he holds a large collection of magazines since his childhood).
Silva has been gaining the respect of martial arts fans around the world for a couple of years now and is considered the top UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) fighter currently in activity. 
Now in 2012, Brazilian’s have one more reason to celebrate their hero: Silva has just beaten the American fighter Chael Sonnen, his greatest rival, for the second time, and defended the honor of the country of tomorrow. The combat became a battle of muscles and morals that stretched out over the octagon ring. Before the MMA era, football was the dream of 9-10 year olds in Brazil. Anderson not only made MMA popular but also helped to encourage kids, especially in poor areas, to start practicing in sports, by becoming a model of discipline, focus and determination.
Although this kind of real life superhero story makes UFC a multimillion dollar franchise, it hasn’t made Anderson Silva rich, at least not directly. The beloved UFC fighter has become one of the most valuable media assets in Brazil, with a carreer managed by Ronaldo’s (the ex-soccer player’s) firm who got him millionaire sponsoring contracts from brands like Burger King and Ford Motors. Go get them, Spidey!
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Anderson Silva é quase um herói de história em quadrinhos da vida real. Conhecido como “Spider”, por sua admiração ao personagem Homem Aranha, Silva conquistou o respeito dos fãs de artes marciais pelo mundo, sendo hoje o principal atleta do UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship)em atividade.
Em 2012, os brasileiros tiveram mais uma razão para celebrar seu ídolo: recentemente, venceu Chael Sonnen, seu maior rival pela segunda vez. O combate, intenso, extrapolou as barreiras do ringue. Mais do que isso, Anderson virou personagem essencial na vida de crianças carentes, popularizando um esporte antes desconhecido no Brasil e ajudando a formar novos atletas.
O futebol, sonho de 9 entre 10 meninos nas comunidades, deu espaço ao MMA e todos os seus ensimentos: disciplina, foco e determinação.