KIDWCKED
10-14-2012, 03:33 PM
c/p ESPN
Anderson Silva had a little bit of fun, then knocked out light heavyweight Stephan Bonnar in the first round.
The dominant middleweight champion willingly planted himself against the fence -- the last place he'd arguably want to be against a bigger opponent -- and stood up to Bonnar's best punches.
At one point, with his corner yelling at him to change strategy, the Brazilian calmly put up his hands in a gesture to show he was in control.
[+] Enlargehttp://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/1013/mma_a_asilva_b2_300.jpg AP Photo/Felipe DanaAnderson Silva made a point of fighting on Stephan Bonnar's terms and still managed to come out on top.
With less than a minute remaining in the round, Silva broke off the fence and forced Bonnar back with an inside trip. As Bonnar frantically tried to regain his balance along the fence, Silva caught him with a beautiful knee to the solar plexus.
The end came immediately after, as a visibly hurt Bonnar turtled up in the center of the cage. Referee Marc Goddard waved the action off at the 4:40 mark.
After the fight, Silva (33-4) said he would not fight again at light heavyweight. The only reason he agreed to move up in weight was to save the UFC 153 event, which lost its original main event when featherweight champion Jose Aldo was injured in a motorcycle accident.
It's likely the end of the road for Bonnar (15-8), who came out of semi-retirement to accept the Silva fight on short notice. The 35-year-old Bonnar had won three straight prior to the loss.
Anderson Silva had a little bit of fun, then knocked out light heavyweight Stephan Bonnar in the first round.
The dominant middleweight champion willingly planted himself against the fence -- the last place he'd arguably want to be against a bigger opponent -- and stood up to Bonnar's best punches.
At one point, with his corner yelling at him to change strategy, the Brazilian calmly put up his hands in a gesture to show he was in control.
[+] Enlargehttp://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/1013/mma_a_asilva_b2_300.jpg AP Photo/Felipe DanaAnderson Silva made a point of fighting on Stephan Bonnar's terms and still managed to come out on top.
With less than a minute remaining in the round, Silva broke off the fence and forced Bonnar back with an inside trip. As Bonnar frantically tried to regain his balance along the fence, Silva caught him with a beautiful knee to the solar plexus.
The end came immediately after, as a visibly hurt Bonnar turtled up in the center of the cage. Referee Marc Goddard waved the action off at the 4:40 mark.
After the fight, Silva (33-4) said he would not fight again at light heavyweight. The only reason he agreed to move up in weight was to save the UFC 153 event, which lost its original main event when featherweight champion Jose Aldo was injured in a motorcycle accident.
It's likely the end of the road for Bonnar (15-8), who came out of semi-retirement to accept the Silva fight on short notice. The 35-year-old Bonnar had won three straight prior to the loss.