Anderson Silva has some advice for fellow ex-UFC champ Ronda Rousey – and her critics

Despite being one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters in MMA history, Anderson Silva knows a little something about losing. The embarrassing kind, the painful kind, the question-your-future kind. So he has some advice for fellow ex-UFC champ Ronda Rousey – and her critics.

This past month at UFC 207, Rousey (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) suffered her second straight loss when she fell short in her effort to reclaim the women’s bantamweight belt from current champ Amanda Nunes (14-4 MMA, 7-1 UFC). It was an embarrassing 48-second defeat that followed a yearlong layoff for someone who was once MMA’s biggest star and the division’s most dominant fighter.

Rousey has been relatively quiet since the defeat (aside from a statement and Instagram post), even after someone vandalized her California home (via DailyMall.co.uk) with graffiti.

It’s not clear if the Olympic medalist and part-time actress will return to the cage. Regardless, Silva said Rousey’s critics needs to realize the immense pressure that goes into a fighting career, especially at the highest level.

“I always dealt very well with defeat, because I’ve had defeats early in my career at a time I couldn’t lose,” Silva recently told the Brazilian TV show Combate News (translated by MMAjunkie). “If I lost, I couldn’t provide for my daughter and put money in the house. So losses are part of it.

“People need to understand that athletes train very hard to go up there. They train for four, five months. I, for one, at the time when I had the title for eight years, if during all those … years I was champion, if I spent … 10 days with my family, it’s a lot – because I was 100 percent dedicated to fighting and to giving it to my best, to bring some joy to the people. So when something like this happens, of people spray painting, criticizing, calling names, these people need to think about that. Because we’re there to do our jobs and show this work that’s not only ours, but also from a team that dedicated themselves for months.”

Silva, a 41-year-old Brazilian, has certainly faced his own critics in recent years. He ruled the middleweight division with a UFC-record 10 consecutive title defenses from 2006-2015. But he’s winless (four losses and a no-contest) in his past five fights. He clowned around and lost his title via knockout to Chris Weidman, he broke his leg in the rematch, he failed a drug test following a subsequent defeat to Nick Diaz, and he came up short in recent fights with Michael Bisping and Daniel Cormier.

That’s why Silva, who next meets Derek Brunson (16-4 MMA, 7-2 UFC) on Feb. 11 at UFC 208, was quick to offer Rousey some words of encouragement following her 2015 title defeat to Holly Holm.

“After her first loss, I sent her a message,” Silva said. “Right then, I posted something on social media motivating her. I think regardless of what happened and what will happen in your life, you need to keep your head up because what you did will stay in history. Regardless of wins or losses, you need to care about what you see as the most important in your life.

“I hope 2017 is a year of many wins for you and new accomplishments, and that if you keep fighting, that you return well. The way I see it, personally and technically as a fighter, pick your opponents better when you return. Don’t fight someone who’s as active as the champ. I think it was the wrong strategy. I hope you come back. You’re a great athlete. God bless you.”

Silva also addressed criticism that Rousey’s defeats were due to a lack of focus, notably her roles in films such as “Entourage,” “Furious 7” and “The Expendables 3.”

While complaints about Rousey’s fight camp and preparations are understandable, Silva doesn’t think it’s fair to question her motivation or dedication to the sport.

“Ronda, when she did the movies, she had time to prepare to fight,” he said. “It happens. She didn’t fight for a long time, so you lose rhythm, and that gets in the way. Not to take anything away from (Nunes); she’s having a great moment, and I hope she keeps winning every fight they put in front of her and that she’s the champion for the rest of her career.

“But as for Ronda, it happens. These are things that happen. It’s not like, ‘Oh, she should have lost because she’s arrogant.’ No. It happens. You get up there, and you can either win or lose. It’s natural. People need to understand that.”

For more on UFC 208, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.