UFC 117 Fight Between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen: A Hall of Fame Induction

Las Vegas ­– UFC at present introduced that the basic 2010 combat between middleweights Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen will likely be inducted into the UFC Corridor of Fame’s ‘Battle Wing’ as part of the category of 2024. The 2024 UFC Corridor of Fame Induction Ceremony will happen as a part of the 12^th Annual UFC Worldwide Battle Week^Ô, on Thursday, June 27, at T-Cell Area, and will likely be streamed stay completely on UFC FIGHT PASS^®.

“The primary combat between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen was unbelievable,” mentioned UFC President & CEO Dana White. “That is the combat that made Anderson a star and confirmed the world that Chael might compete with anybody within the division. This unbelievable dogfight had the whole lot you need in a five-round title combat, and it is going to be an honor to induct this combat into the UFC Corridor of Fame this summer time.

As the primary occasion of UFC^® 117: SILVA vs. SONNEN, which befell on August 7, 2010, at Oracle Area in Oakland, Calif., each Silva and Sonnen entered the occasion on successful streaks of 12 and three, respectively.

Silva entered the Octagon as UFC middleweight champion with a 28-4 report (11-0 UFC) that included wins over future UFC Corridor of Famers Forrest Griffin, Wealthy Franklin, and Dan Henderson (combat wing); former UFC welterweight champion Carlos Newton; former WEC^® middleweight champion Chris Leben; former WEC heavyweight champion James Irvin; former Strikeforce^® welterweight champion Nate Marquardt; and former Shooto^® welterweight champion Hayato Sakurai.

Sonnen entered the match because the top-ranked middleweight contender with a 26-10-1 report (7-4 UFC / WEC) and former wins over former Strikeforce gentle heavyweight champion Renato Sobral, former WEC gentle heavyweight champion Jason Lambert, former WEC middleweight champion Paulo Filho, and former Strikeforce^® welterweight champion Nate Marquardt.   

Each athletes met on the middle of the Octagon, exchanging punches and kicks to start the primary spherical. 52 seconds into the spherical, Sonnen landed a straight left, beautiful the champion and knocking him again to the cage. Sonnen started to strain Silva, touchdown a number of further punches and takedowns to regulate the tempo of the combat. With 3:23 left within the first, Sonnen took Silva down and mounted him, controlling the motion in half guard and touchdown punches from the highest place. Sonnen would transfer into full guard with 1:45 remaining, staying on high of the champion via the tip of the spherical. Sonnen secured 31 important strikes within the spherical, greater than any earlier opponent landed towards Silva in a full UFC combat.

Silva got here out firing for the second spherical, touchdown a number of punches and kicks earlier than being taken down by Sonnen. Sonnen managed the tempo of the second spherical from the complete mounted place, touchdown punches and elbows with Silva responding with photographs from his again periodically. With 15 seconds left within the second, Silva would try a Kimura on the fence, with Sonnen countering from high place.

Each athletes raced to the middle of the Octagon for spherical three, with Silva instantly touchdown an overhand proper. Sonnen would advance and take Silva down 20 seconds into the spherical, persevering with his dominance on the canvas. Sonnen would proceed his floor assault on Silva, touchdown punches and elbows from the highest place.

Silva opened the fourth spherical by taking management and touchdown a collection of punches, kicks, and an elbow that surprised Sonnen. The 2 traded punches earlier than Silva took Sonnen down 30 seconds into the spherical. Sonnen used his wrestling background to safe a reversal and take management through high place with 4 minutes remaining. Sonnen would management the fourth spherical through high management, persistently touchdown punches and elbows.

The fifth spherical opened with each athletes within the middle of the Octagon, measuring one another up till Sonnen landed an overhand left that knocked Silva down. Sonnen secured the highest place and tried to submit Silva through facet choke 45 seconds into the spherical, however Silva evaded the hassle. Sonnen continued to regulate the combat from the bottom, persistently touchdown punches with Silva evading from the bottom.

With 2:05 remaining within the combat, Silva started to land a number of punches from his again and slipped Sonnen right into a triangle armbar, submitting Sonnen through TKO with 1:50 seconds remaining to retain the UFC middleweight title. Silva’s triangle armbar submission was solely the second in UFC historical past, and when it comes to time elapsed, was the second newest at the moment. Silva’s submission got here with a -60 important strike differential and stays the best statistical comeback end in UFC championship historical past.

Sonnen’s 320 strikes landed towards Silva set a UFC report that ranks fourth at present. Silva had solely absorbed 166 whole strikes in his earlier 11 fights mixed.

Silva’s win earned him his 12^th consecutive UFC victory, breaking Royce Gracie’s UFC report for longest successful streak. The combat additionally gained Battle of the Yr honors through the Fighters Solely World MMA Awards.

Silva and Sonnen would every win their subsequent two respective fights earlier than assembly in a rematch in the primary occasion of UFC^® 148: SILVA vs. SONNEN II. Silva would win their second assembly through second-round TKO.

To view this combat on UFC FIGHT PASS, please go to: https://ufcfightpass.com/playlist/20542

Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Govt Author, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a ardour for Fight Sports activities and likewise a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s additionally a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.