Chael Sonnen gives it his all, taking Anderson Silva down just seconds into the first round and keeping him there till the end; a flashback from their first fight. The effort seems to harm him more than his opponent though as Sonnen begins to show signs of fatigue and desperation when he can’t repeat his success in Round 2, which the champion is quick to take advantage of.

Silva isn’t fighting fair here; he rubs Vaseline on his arms/chest before it begins and blatantly holds onto Sonnen’s shorts until the referee tells him to stop; but a knee to Sonnen’s chest, the result of a failed spinning elbow Silva skillfully dodges, only looks illegal at first glance. It’s a classic Silva finish from there, fair and square. No need for miracle triangles this time.

my rating : 4 of 5

2012