Silva knocks out Sonnen to win 15th straight fight
LAS VEGAS — Chael Sonnen did his talking for two years. Anderson Silva did his talking in two rounds.
In one of the most anticipated matches in Ultimate Fighting Championship history, Silva overcame a slow start in the main event of UFC 148 before vanquishing his longtime tormentor. In front of a sold-out crowd of 15,016 at MGM Grand Garden Arena, Silva extended his UFC record to a perfect 15-0 on Saturday night, defending his middleweight title with a TKO victory at 1:55 of the second round.
“Chael came prepared. He came 100 per cent. He did what he did best, which is take me down,” said a jubilant Silva (30-4).
“The only difference is, I wasn’t hurt this time.”
Silva, after defending his title for a record-10th straight time, also appeared to bury any ill will towards the trashtalking Sonnen.
“I no have nothing for Chael. It’s fine. This is a sport,” said Silva. “Chael, if you’d like to have a barbecue at my house, I’d love to have you over for a barbecue.”
UFC president Dana White was gushing over the performance of the man he has long declared the top poundfor-pound fighter in mixed martial arts.
“The guy is an artist with his hands and feet,” said White.
“He fought a motivated, fired-up, in-shape Chael Sonnen tonight … He came out and he won in the second round. The guy is a freak of nature. I just think he’s the greatest fighter of all-time.”
Sonnen had spent two years calling out Silva. He questioned his heart and his talent. He insulted Silva’s wife and home country of Brazil. Sonnen insisted that when he finally got Silva in the cage again, he’d leave with the title around his waist. Silva uncharacteristically responded to Sonnen’s barbs when, on a recent media conference call, he said what he is going to do inside the Octagon “is something that’s going to change the image of the sport.”
The first time they met, in August 2010, Sonnen pushed Silva like no UFC fighter had. Silva had clearly lost the first four rounds, victimized by Sonnen’s superior wrestling and — Silva later revealed — struggling with a rib injury that occurred leading up to the fight. But in perhaps the most dramatic finish in UFC history, Silva locked in a triangle choke with just one minute, 50 seconds left in the fifth and final round to retain his title.
Saturday’s match was contested in one of the most intense atmospheres in UFC history. Thousands of Brazilian fans flocked to Vegas to cheer for their hero. Duelling chants of ‘Brazil!’ and ‘USA!’ filled the arena. The live gate of $7 million was the most for a U.S.-based UFC event and trails only the $12-million gate at UFC 129 in Toronto.
The first round at UFC 148 played out exactly the same way the previous fight had gone most of that night. Sonnen sprinted forward and immediately took down Silva when Silva threw a punch. On top for almost the entire five minutes, he avoided one submission attempt by Silva and was able to score with elbows and short punches from on top.
He tried to take Silva down to start the second round, but Silva stuffed that attempt. It turned out to be the beginning of the end, as Silva wobbled Sonnen with some punches. When Sonnen lost his balance and fell after missing a spinning back first, Silva flew in and kneed Sonnen in the upper chest. The champ saw his opportunity to finish Sonnen, unleashing fists on the mat before referee Yves Lavigne waved the match off.
“The better guy wins every time. The better guy won tonight,” said Sonnen (2812), who was bitterly disappointed but said he’ll put one foot in front of the other and move forward.