UFC 117: Chael Sonnen Proves that Anderson Silva is Human

It is no secret that when I wrote my original article on the Sonnen vs. Silva fight that I was writing while slightly biting my tongue and holding it in my cheek. That was because the smart alec in me couldn’t help but run with all the analogies that had presented themselves to me as I thought of the fight.

Chael Sonnen had made all that fuss about how he was planning to ‘retire’ or ‘kill’ the champion, do this, and do that. It was all so comical and it all reminded me of the Andy Kaufman vs. Jerry Lawler story.

As the hours came closer and closer to the fight, my friends kept asking me: “…But, Regina, you never said who you were predicting to win between Sonnen and Silva?”

Ha, ha, ha! Yes, I knew that. I, of all people, realized that anything could’ve happened. Plus, after it was all said and done, I didn’t want to be the ‘butt of your jokes’! (…I took enough flack after my Stephan Bonnar article!)

Mixed Martial Arts is a funny thing, isn’t it? Even funnier, was the look on my face as I sat in that crowded bar with my friends Saturday night watching as my hero, Anderson Silva, took an all out ass whooping from a fighter whom I had just spent several hours writing 800+ words comparing to the late comedian Andy Kaufman!

This old gal was dumbstruck! I almost felt as though I had stepped into an ‘alternate universe’. A strange universe where Anderson Silva’s ‘super human powers’ were no longer working. What was happening?

CHAMPION ANDERSON SILVA VS. CHAEL SONNEN

Round 1 – Sonnen headed to the center of the octagon but Silva moved away. Sonnen kickd and Silva caught the blow. Sonnen punched and Silva danced away. Sonnen kicked again and similar to the James Irvin fight, Silva caught it, but Sonnen escaped via some crazy acrobatic back flip! Sonnen wobbled Silva and he tried to rush in. Silva shot in and Sonnen was able to get a guillotine, but he let it go as they moved back to the feet. Sonnen shot in, and he ended up on top of the champion throwing short punches. Sonnen was in half-mount. Silva worked his back to the cage. Halfway through the round, Sonnen was smothering Silva. Several left hands found their mark. Silva moved to his knees. Sonnen worked in a few short punches. Silva tried to roll for a knee, but Sonnen stayed on top. Sonnen postured and delivered some damage from above. Sonnen stood and delivered a big right hand. Silva got trapped on the floor. Sonnen pressed in as Silva regained guard. Several big punches landed.

It was obvious that Sonnen had won the round. I was speechless! Surely, Anderson would go back to his corner – collect his thoughts and come back fighting! I was thinking: Chael would soon be done! Ha, ha, ha! Visons of Hendo being choked out ala’ UFC 82 danced in my head.

Round 2 – Sonnen rushed in. Silva fired a few punches that landed, and a low kick nailed Sonnen. Silva fired another kick, and Sonnen caught it and put the champ on his back. Silva threw elbows from the bottom as Sonnen returned fire. Silva attempted a body lock to stand up. Sonnen slammed him down and pushed away with a cross-face. Silva opened guard. Sonnen worked and grinded from the top. Silva tried a few heel-kicks and tried the bodylock again, but Nothing… Silva let go of the body lock and tried to control the wrists, but Sonnen worked his arms free and hit with more punches. Sonnen continued with more grinding punishment from the top.
Sonnen landed a few solid elbows from the top. Silva’s guard was active, but wasn’t even close… NOTHING! Sonnen won that round, too. What is going on?

Round 3 – Sonnen ran in and Silva landed a right. Silva circled and came back with a spinning back kick. Sonnen shot in and Silva fell to his back. He looked for a kimura as he fell, but Sonnen defended it. Silva ended up on his knees. Sonnen got on Silva’s back and he started driving knees to the body and then fired right hands to Silva’s head. Silva rolled and pulled guard. Silva again tried to stall underneath, but Sonnen was relentless. Silva locked in a figure four underneath, but Sonnen grinded away from the top. He was throwing forearms, elbows, and punches.

Silva’s face and body was not damaged and he didn’t even look hurt. What was the deal? If you punch him does he not bleed? Does he not bruise? I am beginning to wonder if I am truly sitting in that ‘alternate universe’ that I referred to…? It is obvious that Anderson is frustrated: he tried to scramble up, but Sonnen pushed him back to the floor. This goes on for another minute. Sonnen holding Silva down on the ground and pounding him relentlessly.

At this point, I reach for my cell phone and text: “WHAT THE F*CK?” to my friend, Jon. I get no response. I assume that Jon is in shock, too.

Round 4 – Silva opened with a big left punch and flying knee. Another punch caught Sonnen, and wobbled him. For a moment, it looked like Sonnen decided to stand and trade and Silva hit him again. Then Sonnen shot in on Silva. Silva ended up on top, but Sonnen gathered himself and swep back to the top. Silva reached guard. Silva was able to control Sonnen’s head but Sonnen stayed busy with punches from the top. Sonnen remained in control throughout the round. He was bloodied by Silva’s elbows from the bottom.

Silva had again lost another round. Now, I am devastated!

Round 5 – Sonnen rushed forward. His shot is defended by Silva. Sonnen throws a punch and Silva lands on his ass, but it was just a slip. Regardless, Sonnen dropped down and started grinding and hammering away. He postured up in Silva’s guard, and began throwing down punches. Silva tried to throw elbows from his back, but Sonnen smothered him and targeted short hammer fists. Sonnen then pulled back and punched Silva’s body relentlessly. As far as I am concerned, this fight was OVER!

Silva was throwing a few shots from the bottom, but there was no accuracy or force going on there… Then all of a sudden, as if out of nowhere, Silva locked on a triangle choke and it looked deep. Silva transitioned it to an armbar and it looked like he was going to tap as referee Josh Rosenthal stepped in. At first it was not clear if Sonnen had tapped or if Rosenthal just stopped the fight, but on the replay, it was clear that Sonnen gave one quick tap.

For a moment there was confusion inside the octagon. Were we about to hear the Sonnen patented denials, ala his first fight with Paulo Fihlo? What appeared to be flared tempers immediately began to calm. Dana White rushed to Silva’s side to make his congratulations on was a spectacular ending to the fight. Then, Josh Rosenthal walked toward Chael Sonnen as if to say to him; “you tapped”. Sonnen mouthed the words: I BELIEVE YOU.

I admit, I sighed with great relief when I realize that my hero, Anderson Silva, was standing at the center of the octagon with his hand raised and with the championship belt slung over his shoulder.

Sonnen was noticeably battle worn and beaten. Silva was tired and exhausted, but did not look as beaten. The fight was finally over! Chael Sonnen was leaving the octagon just has he had entered – as a top middle weight contender. No more, no less. Chael Sonnen exposed chinks in my hero’s armor that I had never seen before.

Obviously, congratulations are in order for Sonnen’s tremendous effort and passionate fight! I had no idea that this battle would turn out anything like this!

The rematch, Silva vs. Sonnen II, is inevitable. Who knows what will happen next time?

Hey… Remember, what I said? Anything can happen once the cage door closes!

But, for now, all is restored in my universe.

Congratulations, Anderson Silva!