(Props: UFCAndersonTheSpider via IronForgesIron)
Following up our presentation of Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen 1, here’s the other UFC fight where Anderson Silva looked less-than-invincible, at least momentarily. This was Silva’s third middleweight title defense, back at UFC 82 in March 2008, and Dan Henderson dominated the opening round, taking Silva down about two minutes into the fight and grinding down on him with punches for the rest of the frame. Henderson also puts a good deal of effort into covering Silva’s mouth and nose with his hand, a cheap breathing-obstruction trick that occasionally bleeds into gouging/fish-hooking territory. (Side note: Skip to the 14:07 mark, and you’ll see the rough draft of the front kick that Silva used to dummy up Vitor Belfort.)
Silva got even in the second round, brawling a bit with Hendo before letting his precision striking take over. At the 21:16 mark, Silva nails Henderson with a knee, kick, and punches that the challenger is never able to recover from. Silva gets on top of Henderson and works his jiu-jitsu until he sinks a particularly nasty rear-naked choke. After the fight, Silva takes a moment to explain that Henderson was good, but he’s no Rich Franklin. A real…class act? Anyway, the Ohio fans loved it.
After the jump: Silva’s UFC 134 title defense against Yushin Okami, which also ended violently in the second round.
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@HOG
I guess that Leben one stuck, what I am trying to say is that I see Silva having the greater ability to circle without bum ribs. He was missing some serious core strength is all I can say. Hendo+Okami had a much tougher time catching up to Silva and inside the clinch, basically both guys paid the price for closing the distance on Silva.....vs Chael not so much, is it because Chael is miles ahead of Okami+Hendo, or is because Silva couldn't draw power from his core to clinch and throw knees when Sonnen got inside, his abiity to bob and weave was hampered by this...I think you know you can bruise someone's ribs during a fight and chances are you will get your hand raised...All I am saying to both you and ccman is that I am given Silva the benefit of the doubt and after I saw how he dealt with Okami on the fence(with his clinch work) and how Okami go tagged and how Bisping tagged Sonnen...I can definitely see Silva doing something amazing. I respect both your opinions, I loved that Leben fight so I always try to get it in whenever I can. I am laying the price on Silva as well so any change of heart from you guys would be great for piece of mind.