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<h3><a href="/go=news.detail&gid=328046" target="_blank">
Anderson Silva makes most marketable athlete list
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<a href="/go=news.detail&gid=328046" ><img class="photo" src="http://img.mixedmartialarts.com/method=get&rs=60&q=75&x=8&y=6&w=310&h=165&ro=0&s=anderson-silva-04-29-11-10-21-52-296.jpg" /></a>
<strong class="ArticleSource">[sportspromedia.com]</strong>
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<p>#40</p>
Anderson Silva – Brazilian, 35, MMA (-)
In 2006, just two fights into his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) career, Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva was crowned the UFC’s middleweight champion. Successfully defending his title 11 times since, with a string of highlight reel knockouts, The Spider is the longest running champion in UFC history and arguably the best mixed martial artist (MMA) of all-time.
Having signed a long-term representation contract with high-profile soccer legend Ronaldo's sports marketing agency 9ine in February 2011, Silva's status in his native Brazil skyrocketed following a highly publicised win in theatrical style over celebrity fighter and fellow Brazilian Vitor Belfort at UFC 126.
Now, with the UFC’s aggressive expansion plans focusing on a return to Rio de Janeiro in August, Silva breaks into the rankings as a value-for-money athlete with a golden opportunity to cement his position as a home-grown hero in an enormous market, and a global superstar in a sport that is rapidly becoming one of the industry’s hottest new properties with broadcasters and sponsors alike.
He's better. GSP isnt held up as the gold standard of MMA. Anderson is #1 P4P undisputed. Pacquiao isn't so popular b/c of his charisma, the dude doesn't even speak english, it's because he fucks people up in the ring.
Tiger Woods is still certainly one of the top 50 most marketable - although his stock has plummeted, probably more from how much he's stunk than the scandals.
Jeter however isn't there anymore. He is not nearly as marketable as he once was and you don't see him in the media or ads much anymore. I'm a Yankees fan and he is not one of the most marketable athletes anymore. He's still probably the most respected athlete in the NY/NJ area, however he just isn't the media force he was. He's probably still above a number of those on the list, but that's only because some of these choices are really shaky.
BuyTheTicketTakeTheRide - WORLDWIDE, there is no way in hell LeBron James is no. 2 haha!!!
Ronaldo and Messi are waaaay more marketable globally. What the hell is this list?!
Lebron should probably be #1. He sure as fuck is more marketable than Usain Bolt. Bolt is an absurd choice for #1, Bolt makes bank but he's not in Lebron's league in terms of generating revenues.
Lebron is ahead of Ronaldo and Messi as well (although both those guys should also be above Bolt). Worldwide means just that - sum total worldwide. Not overseas. The money Lebron generates in the US+overseas tops what soccer players can make, no question. The most popular basketball player is usually going to be the #1 revenue generating, "most marketable" athlete by financial definitions (which is what marketing is all about). Tiger trumped that for a long time but Tiger was very unique.
That list is shit, I can understand why tiger isn't on there but it makes no sense that Peyton manning isn't in the top ten no less not even on the list, the guy is practically on every commercial on football Sunday's.
Anderson will go down as one of the greatest of all time. GSP will go down as one of the first great 170lbers w/ Hughes and one of the best point fighters ever.
Anderson has put on great fights recently, GSP hasn't so much.
Toronto was booing GSP ffs.
The list is most marketable, not most exciting. If Andy is so much more marketable than GSP....why is GSP getting the ridiculous sponsorship deals? I've asked my friends that don't watch MMA before which fighters they've heard of, and GSP always comes before Andy...And half the time, Andy+Wanderlei are thought to be the same person.
