Anderson Silva & Chael Sonnen: An instant classic fight
For four-and-a-half rounds, Sonnen did the same thing. He showed the world that Silva has a hard time on his back against a great wrestler. Every round was a repeat of the previous round.
It was just like pushing rewind and play on your DVR. Every round repeated the previous one.
If you were at ringside in Oakland, you are still feeling goose bumps. If you saw it on pay-per-view, you got a bargain. If you viewed it at a bar, you should have left a huge tip, because this one was worth the price of admission.
I was like some fight fans that disliked the trash talking by Sonnen. I guess it's not trash talking if you can back up your words. And tonight he did just that for 95 percent of the fight. It was the other 5 percent of the fight that he was submitted in.
Sonnen fans can only be happy with his performance. For Silva fans, this was a nail biter and a night to forget.
In the end, Silva won by a triangle armbar at 3:10 mark of the fifth round.
Georges St. Pierre is now on top of the pound-for-pound rankings.
Results from the card:
Dennis Hallman beat Ben Saunders by Unanimous Decision
Stefan Struve beat Christian Morecraft by KO (Punches
Tim Boetsch beat Todd Brown by Unanimous Decision
Johny Hendricks beat Charlie Brenneman by TKO (Punches
Phil Davis beat Rodney Wallace by Unanimous Decision
Rick Story beat Dustin Hazelett by TKO (Punches)
Junior dos Santos beat Roy Nelson by Unanimous Decision
Matt Hughes beat Ricardo Almeida by Technical Submission
Clay Guida beat Rafael dos Anjos by Submission (Jaw Injury)
Jon Fitch beat Thiago Alves by Unanimous Decision
Kevin Richardson has been a fan of mixed martial arts competition ever since UFC 3, when 600-pound sumo wrestler Emmanuel Yarborough was beaten by Keith Hackney. Kevin will cover the world of MMA — in Baltimore, nationally and internationally. He plans to take readers into the locker rooms and MMA schools, where they'll hear from local fighters and trainers. If you have a news tip or suggestions for the blog, please 
Comments
I dont think that for the silva's fans is a fight to forget. sonnen was great and put up a great fight, but silva showed to the world that even when facing a challenge he can win the fight. Nobody can tell it was luck. I wanted to see how other fighter would react in such a fight against sonnen.
Posted by: jones dias | August 8, 2010 3:11 AM
This was not a night to forget for Silva fans. Anyone who thinks otherwise understands nothing about bjj (and by extension, MMA). I suggest you read up and watch videos on the history of the UFC.
Jake,
I have more than 480 DVD's in my collect. I study bbj three days a week. Me and every writer that blog thought the same think. Sometimes we can be wrong.
Kevin
Posted by: Jake | August 8, 2010 3:58 AM
Like a walk-off homerun or a buzzer-beating game winning shot, Silva winning when all hope seemed lost, has the heart of a true champion.
John,
Well said. He found a way to win.
Kevin
Posted by: John | August 8, 2010 3:59 AM
Silva fans are giving him way too much credit. I don't think pulling off that triangle/arm-bar was "heart" as much as it was just winging it out there in desperation to finish the fight. Sonnen backed up everything he said he would do, for 4 1/2 rounds. I'm also not sold on the tap. I do believe he did tap out, but it was probably because he's been there so many times before that it was instinctive. Sonnen is a warrior man. I want a rematch, and if Sonnen can boost his BJJ defense he'll win... he dominated in every aspect of the game last night. In my book he won... did to Silva what no one else could.
Posted by: Bill | August 8, 2010 2:44 PM
The fans were the real winners in that main event. Chael proved he's a world class fighter. Spider is the best figher I've seen in my lifetime. REMATCH and put these guys(Team Nogs vs Team Quest)as the next TUF coaches. That would be awesome!!!
Ballz,
Great suggestion.
Kevin
Posted by: Ballz Mahoney | August 8, 2010 5:18 PM
fight to forget? I don't think so, Silva already said he wanted to finish the fight using Noguiera BJJ, furthermore, I believe he has an injured rib to begin with
I don't think GSP could last all five rounds starting with an injury, although he lasted 2-3 rounds with a groin injury against Alves
Posted by: Rod | August 8, 2010 5:46 PM
i don't know if I believe he was injured but he did not look like himself. He seemed very disinterested. The first round when Sonnen got him with a good right hand, Silva left his hands down and got hit 3 more times in the chin... kind of showing look you can't hurt me. When Silva was on the ground, he let Sonnen hit him a lot of times without trying to defend. It seemed like a very fishy weird fight. As bad as he was getting beat, I told everyone I was with that it looks like Silva is just playing with him and could slap a submission on at anytime. Even the annoucers were saying Sonnen is just leaving his arm there and thats very dangerous.
Anyways, it was an exciting fight and I wonder if Belfort will get Silva next.
Posted by: Phi | August 9, 2010 12:50 PM
Thumbs up to both fighter! I have seen the fight and I might say it was an awesome match... With all the noise and everything I must say that the viewer we able to enjoy and they have seen what they expected from the fighters. Great fight indeed.
Posted by: Keith | September 21, 2010 9:40 AM