Depending on your perspective, either the beginning or the ending of UFC 117’s main event between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen was one of the most shocking in UFC history.
Those shocked by the beginning witnessed long underdog Chael Sonnen dominate champion Silva for four consecutive rounds. While the idea of a wrestler like Sonnen outclassing Silva in the takedown game was always a possibility, given Silva’s previous trouble with takedown artists, the manner in which he controlled Silva on the ground was unprecedented. And the fact that he actually dominated the striking in round one–rocking Silva with one punch and connecting with several other hard ones–was definitely not in anyone’s prediction column.
But midway through round four, just as everyone started assuming Sonnen was about to be crowned UFC Middleweight Champion, Silva proved why so many regard him as the pound-for-pound best. While being controlled by the superior wrestler, Silva slapped on a triangle from the bottom, and scored a submission from Sonnen. There was some debate at the time based on the fact that Sonnen only tapped twice (and the taps were not “hard” taps), but the referee saw the submission and called the fight.
Silva, after losing for four and a half rounds, retained his belt in UFC’s most incredible finish of all time. And, for what it is worth, the articulate Sonnen did not debate the tapout in his post-fight interview.