Anderson Silva wasn’t an instant success as a draw. In the early stages of what’s still the longest championship reign in UFC history, Silva’s middleweight title fights were often paired up as double bills with other big attractions on UFC pay-per-view card. The idea of Silva as a legendary figure didn’t really take hold until his Houdini submission of Chael Sonnen and face-kick knockout of Vitor Belfort.
Demetrious Johnson has surpassed Silva’s record for most successful title defenses, with 11 in his five years as UFC flyweight champion. The world’s best current pound-for-pound fighter is just now starting to get his due after all these years.