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FLASHBACK: Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen I round by round report from UFC 117
Jul 7, 2012 - 10:15:35 AM FLASHBACK: Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen I round by round report from UFC 117

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Saturday night brings the highly anticipated rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen. Their first meeting took place almost two years ago at UFC 117, and provided one of the most epic and surprising UFC Title fights ever. Here's a look back on that first fight with the live play by play report from UFC 117, originally posted on August 7, 2010:

MAIN EVENT FIGHT FIVE: ANDERSON SILVA VS. CHAEL SONNEN (MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP)

ROUND ONE: Sonnen came straight out and ate a right hand. Sonnen tried to throw a knee and Silva caught it. Sonnen landed a body kick. Silva landed a right. The crowd loudly chanting for Silva. Silva caught a kick and Sonnen rolled through. Silva landed a hard kick. Sonnen landed a huge right on Silva. Sonnen got another one and Silva is hurt! Silva recovers Silva takes Chael down. Sonnen got in again and hurt Silva after getting back to his feet. Sonnen shot in and took Silva down, and we've got a freaking fight on our hands. He got to half guard and landed a few punches. He trapped an arm and landed some more. He got in a big elbow. Silva got his back on the cage. Sonnen keeps wrist control and lands some big shots on Silva and takes his back. He tries to lock in a choke as Silva is on his knees. Silva rolls and gets back to half guard. Sonnen dropped down with an elbow. He postured up and landed a right. He dropped a huge right onto Silva. He got back down to half guard. He landed a short uppercut and pinned the left arm and landed an uppercut. Silva moved back to guard. Sonnen postured and landed a couple of punches. He is landing some hard shots. Sonnen steps up and drops back down with a huge right into side control. Silva gets him back to half guard. He postures up with another combo. The round ends with Sonnen on top. Holy hell.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Sonnen. What a round from the challenger. Silva's never been dominated like that in his UFC career, and perhaps his entire MMA career. Sonnen came out and did exactly what he said he'd do.

ROUND TWO: Silva hurts Chael with a leg kick early. But Sonnen comes in and takes him down again. Silva starts throwing some hard elbows from the bottom. Silva tried to hold onto his body as the crowd moved to a chant of "U.S.A." Sonnen started slamming his hands into the side of Silva's head. Sonnen slams Anderson's head onto the ground as Silva keeps the body lock. Sonnen tries to get out and Silva lands an elbow. Sonnen postured up and landed a big left. Sonnen landed some short back and forth punches. Sonnen landed some short hammer fists, postured up and landed some more punches. Silva landed an elbow from the bottom. Sonnen lands another hard elbow. Silva tried to go for an armbar but Sonnen got out. He postured up and landed a huge right. He got down with another right. Silva again controlled the body. Silva throws up for a triangle and Sonnen got out of it. Sonnen landed another elbow. He started throwing some elbows to the thigh. Sonnen landed another short elbow. Silva tried to get up the cage and Sonnen took his back. Silva grabbed a kimura but Sonnen got out. He almost locked on a leg lock but Sonnen got out and landed an elbow before the round ended.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Sonnen. He's taking the fight to Anderson, but Silva is much more active and is now looking for submissions. Can Chael keep this up for three more rounds?

ROUND THREE: Silva lands a huge right to start the round. He circles and lands a spinning back kick. Sonnen tries to get in. He gets the takedown Silva goes for an arm and Sonnen takes his back. He starts landing knees to the thigh and then throws punches to the side of the head. Silva's got to do something here. He rolls through and Sonnen stays on him into his guard. Sonnen lands a few punches. The crowd starts chanting for Sonnen and Silva puts a body triangle on from the bottom. Sonnen lands some short rabbit punches. He lands a couple of body shots as well. Sonnen goes back to the body. Sonnen has dominated from the outset here and we're halfway through the fight. Sonnen continues to hold top position, and Silva's going to need to finish this fight somehow now. Sonnen stays active from the top. Silva lands a couple of blows from the bottom and the round ends with Sonnen on top again.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Sonnen. He's taken every round here, but he needs to survive two more rounds. Silva needs to finish it.

ROUND FOUR: Sonnen comes right out and Silva lands a left. He rocks Chael with an elbow. Silva comes after him and lands a kick. They're trading punches. Silva misses a few punches and Sonnen shoots. Silva sprawls and ends up on top. He lands an elbow to the body in half guard. Sonnen grabs him and sweeps to the top. Man, what a fight from Sonnen right now. He throws some rabbit punches. Silva grabs a hold of the body and tries to control Sonnen, who lands a number of punches. Sonnen isn't doing much here, but he's keeping top control. Silva tries to use the butterfly hooks to kick him off and can't. Sonnen lands a few more punches to stay active enough. Sonnen goes to body punches and Silva tries to grab a body lock again. Time is running out on Silva here. He lands a number of elbows from the bottom in a short flurry. Sonnen lands some hard short punches. Sonnen is cut open from the elbows from Silva from the bottom. He rides out the round in Silva's guard, and it comes down to this final round. Wow, what a fight.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Sonnen. He has taken this fight at every step, but it all comes down to this last five minutes.

ROUND FIVE: Silva lands a straight kick. Sonnen tried to shoot and Silva shook it off. Silva slipped and Sonnen got into Silva's guard. That could be it. Sonnen moved to half guard and went for an arm triangle. He tried to use it to get to the mount but Silva got back to guard. Sonnen landed a punch to the body. Silva tried to to get out but Sonnen stayed on him. Sonnen continued to throw punches to stay active on the top. Sonnen landed some more right hands and Silva has very little time left here with two and a half minutes left. Sonnen postured up and landed some short punches and the crowd started to boo. Silva landed a punche from the bottom and locked on a triangle! Chael is in trouble. He tapped and Josh Rosenthal stopped the fight! But Sonnen is saying he didn't tap. What the hell is going on! The replay showed that Chael tapped. Holy shit! And Silva holds onto the title! He tried to pull a Paulo Filho and say he didn't tap, but the replay showed he tapped.

WINNER: Silva via submission (triangle choke) at 3:10 of the fifth round

POST FIGHT: Silva said he doesn't have any excuses. He thanked the fans and gave Chael credit for a tough fight. He said he was losing the first four rounds. He said a week ago he hurt his ribs, but "not to make any excuses" he still came in and fought. He said the doctor's told him not to fight in this one. Silva, in English, thanked the fans and his friends in Brazil.

Chael is talked to next. Sonnen said it was a tough fight, Silva's a tough guy. He said he came in second. He said he can't say much because he got his shot. He said he's only there to be number one, if he's not the best he'll move on in life, but for now he's got the Silver medal.

STAR RATING: (*****) That is one of the most epic title fights in MMA history. Sonnen backed up absolutely every word he said and battered Anderson Silva through four and a half rounds, and was just "that" close to winning the UFC Middleweight Championship before once again getting caught in a submission. Silva was forced to fight, landed some hard punches throughout while getting taken down multiple times in the fight. He overcame everything in that fight and slapped on the submission when it counted. Unbelievable fight and by far the greatest fight Anderson Silva's had in the UFC.