6. Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen
UFC 148 “Silva vs. Sonnen 2”
July 7, 2012 | Las Vegas
Silva took all of Sonnen’s pre-fight bluster and blew it up in his face, as he stopped his arch nemesis with punches in the second round of their rematch at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Ruthless ground-and-pound brought it to a close 1:55 into Round 2, providing a final resolution to one of the most heated rivalries in Ultimate Fighting Championship history. Sonnen executed his game plan to perfection in the first round. He struck for a takedown inside the first 10 seconds, moved to half guard roughly a minute later and ultimately mounted the champion. Silva spent the final 4:54 of Round 1 on his back, silenced and neutralized by the challenger’s heavy top game. The second round was a different story. Silva denied Sonnen’s advances and later dodged a wild and ill-advised spinning backfist from the Oregonian. Sonnen wound up on the seat of his pants after the attempted strike, leaving him vulnerable to one of the game’s most vicious finishers. With Sonnen on the ground, Silva planted a knee firmly in his chest, sapping both wind and resolve. The American regained his footing briefly, only to go down again. This time, Silva finished it, unleashing a series of jackhammer punches and forcing referee Yves Lavigne to intervene.

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