Though he is already 48, time has not slowed down the former UFC Middleweight Champion. Anderson Silva is regarded by many as the greatest UFC fighter, mainly on the strength of the longest title reign ever, a staggering 2,457 days (I'm not sure how many hours or minutes, though). Sure, he announced a retirement fight back in 2020. But a bit like an Elton John or Ozzy Osbourne farewell tour; expect to see many of those before Anderson Silva hangs up his four-ounce gloves. And thank goodness for that. Silva isn't just a fighter; he combines dance with the special effects of a Hollywood action blockbuster movie. When the Brazilian was at his peak, most fights seemed unfair. The rivals looked more like flies in a spider web than true peers of Silva. No wonder they call this magnificent specimen "The Spider." Well, no, it is actually because, as a little kid, he would put on a Spiderman costume in recess and prance around the school. But I am sure no one teased Anderson. Who would dare?
The MMA fighter has an inspiring rags-to-riches story. Born in the slums of Sao Paulo, Silva moved to the nearby city of Curitiba at the age of 4. There he instantly gravitated toward martial arts. Like, any type of combat you can imagine. As he explained, "My first experience in martial arts was in the (muay thai) school. Because the school had a program for capoeira. A couple of friends started training taekwondo, and I saw that and was like, 'Woah, that's very interesting. And I started training taekwondo too, and jiu-jitsu and muay thai— I'm training a lot (of martial arts)." Today he is a master in Muay Thai and has reached black belt rank in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Anderson Silva will likely maintain his reputation as the greatest UFC fighter for some teams. Even if some plucky wannabe overtakes him, "The Spider" will always be a legendary name in the sport. Therefore, collecting Anderson Silva cards is a no-brainer. Especially since the market for UFC cards seems to be growing constantly. Where to start, you ask? You are in luck. Here are 14 unbeatable Anderson Silva UFC cards to add to your collection.
2023 Panini Prizm UFC Anderson Silva Mojo Prizm /25
A raw card sold for $160.
The greatest thing about Panini producing the MMA cards is all the Prizm versions of the cards. You can now get Silva's devastating form in any color and variety you could ever desire. I happen to think the 2023 Panini Prizm UFC Anderson Silva Mojo Prizm /25 offsets "The Spiders" mean dig face and killer kick form perfectly. But you may prefer a different parallel. Lord knows, there are plenty to choose from. But get a numbered one because this set is more heavily printed than most UFC ones.
2009 Topps UFC Round 1 Anderson Silva Rookie Card RC Victorious Debut VD#1
A PSA 10 sold for $425.
There are several cards here commemorating Anderson Silva's debut fight. It is easy to understand why. An absolutely unknown Brazilian street kid destroyed an established star, Chris Leben, in his first fight. Of course, the UFC must have had some idea of what was coming because they scheduled that fight in the main event of UFC Ultimate Fight Night. The 2009 Topps UFC Round 1 Anderson Silva Rookie Card RC Victorious Debut VD#1 is a relatively inexpensive way to own a little piece of that history. It shows Silva with an unassuming smile while being introduced. That same seemingly innocuous facial expression would soon be linked to utter pain and devastation.
2010 Leaf MMA Anderson Silva Autographs Red #AUAS1
A PSA 10 sold for $837.
We don't have any other unlicensed cards on this list. However, the 2010 Leaf MMA Anderson Silva Autographs Red #AUAS1 is a particular beauty and sells for a substantial price. Therefore it warrants inclusion. The wings and emblazoned symbol behind the longest-standing champion are the kind of creative flourish Leaf excels at.
2022 Panini Immaculate UFC Anderson Silva – Milestones
A PSA 10 sold for $390.
The card appeared at the head of all advertisements for the 2022 Panini Immaculate product, and its easy to see why. The 2022 Panini Immaculate UFC Anderson Silva – Milestones cards is one of the most dynamic looking cards of “The Spider.” And you have to give Panini credit for somehow making a card of a certified cold-blooded killer look classy. And we love that the auto is on card and super clean.
2022 Donruss UFC Anderson Silva Downtown #3
A raw card sold for $500.
The Downtown series is second only to Kaboom! as the most popular insert in the hobby. But for me, this is the cooler one, with its hometown theme. However, I wonder why the 2022 Donruss UFC Anderson Silva Downtown #3 has landmarks from Rio de Janeiro when Silva from Sao Paulo is beyond me. That would be like having the Golden Gate for a player from New York. But it's still a beautiful card. And if you can get a PSA 10 on one, you will have a very lovely payday ahead.
2012 Topps Finest UFC Anderson Silva Gold Refractor Auto /25
A raw card sold for $600.
2012 Topps Finest UFC was one of the first high-end cards for the sport. And we have to give Topps some props (hey, that rhymes) for the clean and appealing design. The picture shows our hero winning the middleweight title, and the on-card auto is clean and fresh on the 2012 Topps Finest UFC Anderson Silva Gold Refractor Auto /25. The gold makes this whole scene classier, but any refractor of this beauty will work.
2013 Topps UFC Anderson Silva Triple Threads Emerald /18
A PSA 10 sold for $600.
The 2013 Topps UFC Anderson Silva Triple Threads Emerald /18 is excellent value for such a high-end patch card. Mainly because there are very few equivalents at the same level. The cheeky patch stands out here: "AND STILL CHAMPION." Definitely one of the coolest patches ever. And the picture of "The Spider" looking nonplussed yet ready to pulverize is excellent. The whole design is one of the best-looking Anderson Silva cards out there for a surprisingly reasonable price.
2018 Topps UFC Knockout Anderson Silva Auto Relic Purple /25
A PSA 9 sold for $700.
Because purple is my favorite color, I will assume it is also yours. The 2018Topps UFC Knockout Anderson Silva Auto Relic Purple /25 offers you an authentic piece of "The Spider's" fight-worn shorts. Admit you have dreamt of that your whole life. But as an added bonus, you get it with that haunting shade of purple around it. Not to mention an imposing view of Silva's physique. This is one of the better numbered Silva memorabilia cards.
2022 Panini Donruss UFC Anderson Silva Signature Series Gold /10 #SSASV
A PSA 10 sold for $1,000.
In 2021 Panini wrestled (wrong metaphor) the rights to UFC cards out of the hands of Topps. Is that good news? Well, it gave us those sweet Panini inserts for the sport. Getting a Downtown and Kaboom! for your favorite fighter is a great bonus. But the downside is the designs have gotten uglier, and most of the Panini UFC cards have sticker autos. And not the good kind, either. The tacky sort that really stands out, like in the 2022 Panini Donruss UFC Anderson Silva Signature Series Gold /10 #SSASV. But that hasn't stopped this card from becoming quite valuable!
2011 Topps UFC Finest Anderson Silva Auto #AAS
A BGS 9.5 sold for $1,700.
The 2011 Topps UFC Finest Anderson Silva Auto #AAS pictures Silva in his actual, somewhat awkward, victory pose. Showcasing a smile that is at once rather charming and yet utterly psychopathic. The hands carry aloft into the silver borders of the card, which is a nice touch. Meanwhile, the auto is exceptionally fresh and clean. You have to give Topps credit for crafting some gorgeous UFC cards.
2022 Panini Select Anderson Silva Gold Prizm /10 #SG-ASV
A PSA 10 sold for $2,000.
One great advantage to UFC cards switching to Panini is getting your favorite fighters in the best Prizm parallels. The 2022 Panini Select Anderson Silva Gold Prizm /10 #SG-ASV is an example of the power of these babies. The design is excellent and captures our hero in a great action pose. The flaw in this otherwise spectacular card is the apparent sticker auto. But it still works.
2006 PRIDE Anderson Silva Rookie Card #003
A PSA 10 sold for $2,250.
No, we aren't trying to insinuate anything about Anderson's sexuality. Instead, PRIDE Fighting Championships is a now-defunct Japanese mixed martial arts promotion company. It is also, not coincidentally, the place where "The Spider" got his start. The 2006 PRIDE Anderson Silva Rookie Card #003 print run is about as low as you would expect for a Japanese fight card. That is why this item is, and shall remain, the holy grail in Anderson Silva's cards. And the card is an attractive one. There is a badass picture of Silva about to destroy some pitiful opponent.
Meanwhile, the Japanese lettering makes it look like a poster from some badass Kung Fu movie. To my eyes, rookie cards do not come any cooler than this one. The current prices are a steal in comparison to the possible future value.
2009 Topps UFC Round 1 Debut Mat Relics Dual Autographs Anderson Silva, Chris Leben #ASCL
A PSA 10 sold for $2,500.
You may prefer to commemorate the absolute shellacking Chris Leben took back in 2006 with a card featuring both fighters' autos. You know, if you are into collecting loser signatures. I am not here to judge. Everyone has their thing. The 2009 Topps UFC Round 1 Debut Mat Relics Dual Autographs Anderson Silva, Chris Leben #ASCL has everything you dreamed of. And so much more. The price is low in comparison to the Red Ink because it has a slightly higher population count. But it is numbered to /25 and commemorates a historical fight. The auto doesn't include Silva's famous nickname. But it has Leben's "The Crippler" moniker scrawled. That is very poetic, Chris.
2009 Topps UFC Round 1 Anderson Silva #AA-S Red Ink Autograph
A PSA Authenticated card sold for $6,600.
I am a sucker for Japanese cards and anything a bit off the beaten track. But if you are like most normal people who weren't dropped on their heads in childhood (thanks, sis), your tastes probably lean towards big company rookies. And if that is your thing, you can't beat the 2009 Topps UFC Round 1 Anderson Silva #AA-S Red Ink Autograph. It features a photo from "The Spider's" match against Chris Leben, which Anderson (of course) won by knockout in the first round. What I love about this card is the fierce red ink auto, which leads with his nickname and follows with the kind of illegible scrawl you expect when picking up a prescription from your pediatrist.
Final Word On The 15 Unbeatable Anderson Silva UFC Cards
UFC cards aren't mainstream yet, but they have been around for a long time, and their visibility has grown. Now that Panini has few assets left in its increasingly sparse treasure box, we can expect more investment in this brand than ever. That is excellent news for collectors of veteran legends like Anderson Silva. His cards are already reasonably valuable, but we can expect them to rise a good deal more. UFC isn't going anywhere, and no one will take away Silva's rightful place as the GOAT any time soon. Furthermore, as you can see from this list, there is no shortage of beautiful cards to invest in.
