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The Cult: Anderson Silva
The Brazilian became the most feared man in the UFC, dispatching his opponents with an air of nonchalance. But, like all good things, Silva's streak could not last forever.
Is there a time in your life that you look back on and think: 'those were the days'? A period that wasn't the arduous fucking slog life usually is, when, for whatever reason, everything was just going right for you? Maybe you had a house that didn't smell of damp and ash. Maybe your commute was less than 45 sweaty minutes. Maybe you even had a relationship that didn't feel like a subliminally competitive sport. You weren't worried about the flaps of skin creeping over the top of your jeans; shit you could even afford to buy some nice jeans to have your skin creep over in the first place – maybe.You look back on those times and think: 'how do I get them back?' Well, let me tell you, buddy, nine times out of 10 you can't. They're gone. Forever. Your new flat is a mildew party. Your commute requires three bus changes. Your new relationship is your right hand and sneering cynicism about your mates' loved-up happiness. The skin is cascading over your now-crusty jeans. You are out of the groove, my friend. Your winning streak is over and it feels like an insurmountable task to ever get it back.When it comes to sport, this groove, this aura, this winning way, is even harder to recapture. When it leaves you, more often than not the only way is down. It could be argued that Arsenal never really recovered from the defeat that snapped their 49-game unbeaten run; after Mike Tyson and Prince Naseem Hamed lost their "0" they didn't shine as brightly; and Rafael Nadal never regained his status as King Of Clay when his run of 81 consecutive wins on the surface came to an end.Read more on VICE Sports.