Anderson Silva Credits Jon Jones For New Techniques

Anderson "Spider" Silva reminisced of his brief sparring session with current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and was all praises for the 27-year-old fighter. Last November, UFC President Dana White teased mixed martial arts fight of what was supposed a brief sparring session between the two legends at the UFC Los Angeles headquarters and the fan response was massive.

A month later, Silva is still raving on how he and "Bones" exchanged notes on a few techniques that can be used in the Octagon. He reveals the friendship that has started during the earlier years of Jones and how they have not eerily had the chance to measure each other up in training sessions. Nevertheless, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter made it known that the experience was one to treasure, however brief.

"It was a normal training, he did a few things, and I did a few things. It was a tough training for both of us. We learned a lot. He taught me a few things I didn't know, I gave him a few tips. I like him a lot, and it was cool," Silva told MMA Fighting.

Both fighters are scheduled to open the year for the UFC and it is unclear which techniques that exchanged during the sparring session will be unleashed on their respective opponents. Jones will try to extend his 11-fight winning streak against "Bad Blood" rival Daniel Cormier while Silva is on the comeback trail against the MMA's bad boy in Nick Diaz.

During the past few years, Jones has been the more successful fighter after stringing up impressive victories against former champions and notable contenders in Lyoto Machida, Rampage Jackson, Rashad Evans and Mauricia Rua. He is inching closer to the record of Silva, needing just five more victories to tie "The Spider" for most consecutive wins in the Octagon and the 39-year-old Sau Paolo native is fully aware of this.

Despite the threat of eclipsing his record, Silva was very much appreciative of Jones and believes if ever the record is to be broken; the honour would be greater if it comes in the hands of the current light heavyweight champion. With Silva nearing the twilight of his career, it is all but set in stone that fight fans will never see the super fight nevertheless, it is heartening to find the mutual respect both legends reserve for each other.