UFC
UFC 153 Results: Jon Fitch survives scare, dominates Erick Silva en route to decision
Oct 13, 2012 - 10:45:25 PM UFC 153 Results: Jon Fitch survives scare, dominates Erick Silva en route to decision

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

At UFC 153 on Saturday night in Brazil, Jon Fitch once again showed why he's been considered one of the premiere welterweights in the sport for years. Taking on prospect Erick Silva, who had impressed through his first three outings in the UFC, Fitch dominated two of the three rounds, and battled back and forth in an exciting middle frame.

Fitch wanted to showcase his dominance and bounce back from his 12-second loss to Johny Hendricks, and he started strong by bullying Silva around throughout much of the first round. That action continued into the second, but then he overshot a drag down attempt, and Silva took his back. Silva nearly secured a rear naked choke, but Fitch's excellent submission defense came in to play and he managed to get free. Not only that, he almost secured an armbar of his own as time ran down in the frame.

Silva was exhausted by the third, and Fitch had little trouble retaking control of the fight. He took Silva down, and battered him in one of the most vicious displays of ground and pound he's pulled off in the UFC. The fight could have been stopped at any point in the final two minutes, as Silva was only covering up, but it ultimately went the distance, with Fitch taking the decision.

The loss is Silva's first setback in the UFC, while Fitch finds new life in the welterweight division by taking out a rising prospect.

[Jon Fitch art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]