Tag: Anderson Silva

Anderson Silva proud of Khalil Rountree’s performance at UFC 307: ‘You are a giant’

Khalil Rountree had many people in awe after UFC 307 – especially Anderson Silva.

[autotag]Khalil Rountree[/autotag] had many people in awe after UFC 307 – especially [autotag]Anderson Silva[/autotag].

Rountree (13-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) proved to be a more than worthy opponent for light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira (12-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) in Saturday’s main event in Salt Lake City, but he was ultimately overwhelmed and finished in Round 4.

Rountree was able to land on Pereira early, winning the first two rounds on all three judges’ scorecards. However, as the fight went on, Pereira found his groove and unleashed brutal combinations on Rountree, who showed incredible heart and resilience to hang in the fight.

Silva predicted that Rountree would become a champion back in 2015, and couldn’t be more proud of his former training partner’s valiant effort against Pereira.

“I could say countless things about this incredible battle between these two giants. In my opinion, the perfect world would be not seeing my brother and my friend fighting. But on the other hand, that’s how the sport is.

Alex, you were impeccable, on an incredible rise. Congratulations, my friend.

As for my little brother Khalil, I am so proud of you, my brother. Thank you so much for being part of my life. Those who know your story know who you truly are: you are a giant. You walk away from this battle as a winner because you showed that fighting at a high level is not for just anyone.

Congratulations to both of you. May GOD bless you both.

Khalil, don’t forget that only a few like us have the courage to fight the good fight. Strength and honor today and always!

And I couldn’t forget to mention our great (José Aldo). You are our champion! 👑 king
@khalilrountree @alexpoatanpereira @josealdojunioroficial 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/DAzMYFjy_yZ/?igsh=MWM4aXRpZWludjM1aQ%3D%3D

Rountree was a big underdog against Pereira, and had many deeming him unworthy of a title shot prior to the fight. Despite the incredible amount of damage suffered in the fight, Rountree took solace in knowing that he can hang with the elite.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.

Unfortunate circumstances: 15 unforeseen injuries that ended UFC main events

Injuries are part of the game in MMA, but there’s nothing worse than one ends a marquee UFC fight.

While the term “freak injury” might not be appropriate to use when discussing a sport that is inherently dangerous, 14 UFC main events have ended in unforeseen injuries – broken legs, separated shoulders, eye pokes, etc. – that don’t typically come in the sequence of MMA combat.

Scroll below to see a chronology of UFC main events that ended in that nature.

Note: Injuries sustained on a TKO due to strikes or tapout due to a submission are not included, nor are retirements on the stool due to extended fight damage or exhaustion. Laceration-based stoppages also are not included since they come as an intentional result of the opposition’s attack.

Chael Sonnen objects to boxing draw vs. Anderson Silva: ‘I won the first three rounds’

Chael Sonnen thinks he would’ve defeated Anderson Silva by decision if their exhibition boxing match had traditional scoring.

[autotag]Chael Sonnen[/autotag] thinks he would’ve defeated [autotag]Anderson Silva[/autotag] by decision on Saturday if their exhibition boxing match had traditional scoring.

After years away from competition, Sonnen ventured into the boxing ring for an exhibition fight against longtime rival Silva, who was participating in what would be his combat sports farewell in Brazil.

It turned out to be a glorified sparring match, with Sonnen and Silva trading light shots to the head and body over five, two-minute rounds. The exhibition had no judges, so after time expired it was deemed a draw and both men had their hands raised. Sonnen acted surprised by the outcome and played ignorant to the lack of judging, then afterward told the media he thought he deserved to win.

“I thought I won the first three rounds,” Sonnen told reporters in a post-fight scrum (H/T: MMAFighting.com). “He let me win the first one. He always lets me win the first round. That’s like one of his strategies. He feels you out. He lets everybody win the first round. And I did the same thing in Rounds 2 and 3 that I did in the first round. But I slipped somewhere in the fourth round, then they brought the doctor in at some point because I had a bloody nose or something. It’s like, come on. You’re making this look way worse than it is. It’s three rounds to two. I thought I won that fight.”

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Despite being a different sport and ruleset than previous meetings, Saturday’s matchup marked the third combat sports encounter between storied rivals Sonnen and Silva.

Silva defeated Sonnen by fifth-round submission at UFC 117 in August 2010 to defend his UFC middleweight title in a bout that will be inducted to the UFC Hall of Fame fight wing later this month.

They would have a rematch at UFC 148 in July 2012, which Silva won by second-round TKO. It’s been more than a dozen years since then, but Sonnen said he’s hung on to the results of those two fights, and is proud this one was less definitive.

“The last two fights, whether I like it or not, were stoppage losses,” Sonnen said. “So a draw is a big step in the right direction. On the other hand, of the six completed rounds I’ve had with Anderson Silva, I won all six. He has never won a round against me. That’s a reality. Tonight he won rounds. Big deal for me to get a draw – big deal for him to win a round.”

According to Sonnen, this venture into the boxing ring will not be a one-off. The 47-year-old said a boxing match with Jorge Masvidal is in his future once Masvidal has his showdown with Nate Diaz on July 6, and Sonnen was pleased to get some experience under his belt before that happens.

“I’m boxing Jorge Masvidal,” Sonnen said. “I got called out for that fight. I agreed for that fight. This was all part of the training process, and I learned some stuff tonight.”

Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen boxing exhibition: Best photos

Check out photos of Anderson Silva’s boxing match against two-time UFC title opponent and former rival Chael Sonnen in Brazil.

Check out these photo highlights of [autotag]Anderson Silva[/autotag]’s boxing exhibition match against two-time UFC title opponent and former rival [autotag]Chael Sonnen[/autotag] at Spaten Fight Night in Brazil. (Photos by Getty Images)

Video: Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen fight to draw in bizarre boxing exhibition

Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen had no intention of hurting each other over five uneventful rounds of exhibition boxing in Brazil.

[autotag]Anderson Silva[/autotag] and [autotag]Chael Sonnen[/autotag] had no intention of hurting each other when they stepped in the ring for a boxing match Saturday in Brazil.

In a combat sports trilogy bout between the pair, Silva and Sonnen lightly sparred for five, two-minute rounds of exhibition boxing in front of a private audience at Spaten Fight Night in Sao Paulo.

Both men did land some clean head shots, with Silva bloodying the nose of Sonnen toward the end of the fight, but there was never threat of a knockdown or knockout.

With no finish and no judges in place, the bout between UFC Hall of Famer and former longtime UFC middleweight champion Silva and Sonnen ended in a draw.

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Check out some of the fight footage below:

FULL FIGHT VIDEO

HIGHLIGHTS

The final encounter between the storied rivals is now likely in the books.

Silva defeated Sonnen by fifth-round submission at UFC 117 in August 2010 to defend his UFC middleweight title in a bout that will be inducted to the UFC Hall of Fame fight wing later this month.

They would have a rematch at UFC 148 in July 2012, which Silva won by second-round TKO.

Despite the heated nature of their UFC feud, Silva, 48, and Sonnen, 47, went on to form a friendly relationship in the years since. That was on display in the aftermath of their boxing match as the pair embraced each other.

Video: Anderson Silva gives Chael Sonnen a rose in their faceoff ahead of boxing match in Brazil

Watch Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen face off ahead of their boxing match this Saturday in Brazil.

The vibe between [autotag]Anderson Silva[/autotag] and [autotag]Chael Sonnen[/autotag] is much different this time around than the two times they fought prior.

The two retired MMA stars will duke it out a third time, but not in the cage. Silva and Sonnen will box this Saturday, June 15, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, as the main event of Spaten Fight Night.

Ahead of their bout, the promotion hosted a press conference on Wednesday evening where the two faced off. They were very friendly toward each other, and Silva even brought a rose to his former rival.

You can watch the video of their faceoff below:

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Chael Sonnen will look at career ‘as a miserable fail’ if he loses Anderson Silva boxing match

Chael Sonnen is elated to be the one to top off Anderson Silva’s career – respectfully speaking, of course.

[autotag]Chael Sonnen[/autotag] is taking his boxing match with [autotag]Anderson Silva[/autotag] very seriously.

Sonnen faces former rival and ex-UFC champ Silva in a 216-pound boxing match Saturday in São Paulo, Brazil.

Sonnen will look to avenge one of the most heartbreaking moments of his MMA career – a late submission loss to Silva in their middleweight title fight at UFC 117 in August 2010. Sonnen was up four rounds on all three judges’ scorecards, although he would later test positive for elevated levels of testosterone. Sonnen lost their title-fight rematch at UFC 148 by second-round TKO.

“There is nothing about this where I go, ‘Boxing is not quite my style,'” Sonnen said on his ESPN show “Good Guy/Bad Guy” with Daniel Cormier. “I’m going out there to beat this man, to fix my life, or I am going to go the rest of my days looking at my career as a miserable fail.”

Sonnen and Silva engaged in one of the most heated rivalries in UFC history. Their first title fight will join the UFC Hall of Fame later in June.

Although Sonnen is flattered to be Silva’s farewell fight, “The Bad Guy” will put respect aside when they lace up the gloves.

“To be the one to get to sign off and close out his career, there is a certain appreciation,” Sonnen said. “But, before I go too nice guy, on you, the rules, starting with No. 1, is we damage each other. I know people like to be friendly and like to say we made up. They love to use the word ‘respect.’

“I will adhere to it, too because it seems like the gentlemanly thing to do, but I’m going to go damage him, which is what I’ve agreed to do. I’m going to put my body in there because he asked. He could have gotten any opponent he wanted. He apparently still wants to do damage to me. So, to act like everything is behind us would just be insincere.”

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Photos: UFC, Bellator stars throw out first pitch at MLB games

Check out these photos highlighting UFC stars past and present who threw out the first pitch at MLB games – and hopefully didn’t embarrass themselves.

Check out these photos highlighting UFC and Bellator stars past and present – including Jon Jones, Anderson Silva, Francis Ngannou, Stipe Miocic, Paige VanZant, and more – who threw out the first pitch at MLB games … and hopefully didn’t embarrass themselves.

UFC Hall of Famer Anderson Silva books boxing match with Chael Sonnen on June 15 in Brazil

Just two weeks before their first fight will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen will have a boxing bout.

[autotag]Anderson Silva[/autotag] is returning to the ring against a familiar foe.

The former UFC middleweight champion and UFC Hall of Famer will be boxing longtime rival [autotag]Chael Sonnen[/autotag] on June 15 in São Paulo, Brazil. Silva and Sonnen both announced the news on through social media (via X):

https://www.instagram.com/p/C7K63gqRTUo/

The professional bout is scheduled for five, two-minute rounds and will take place at 216 pounds, according to Ariel Helwani. It will be Silva’s final fight in Brazil.

Silva, known primarily for his historic championship run in the UFC, stopped fighting in MMA in 2020 after finishing his contract with the UFC.

Although the Brazilian legend hasn’t competed in MMA again, he did take up boxing, where he’s been fighting sporadically since his departure from the UFC. Silva has boxed three times: Twice in 2021 – defeating Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in a decision and knocking out former UFC champion Tito Ortiz, – and once in 2022 when he faced YouTube star Jake Paul to lose a unanimous decision. He hasn’t fought since.

He will now take on Sonnen, who will come out of retirement to make his boxing debut. The pair fought twice under the UFC banner in a pair of memorable and heated contests, both of which were won by Silva.

The first matchup between them from UFC 117 in August 2010 will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame fight wing less than two weeks after the boxing match goes down.

Luke Rockhold has a wild idea for a Karate Combat grand prix involving UFC legends

If Karate Combat could convince four former UFC champions – two Hall of Famers – to compete in a one-night grand prix, would you watch?

If Karate Combat could convince four former UFC champions – two of them Hall of Famers – to compete in a one-night grand prix, would you watch?

That’s an idea floated by [autotag]Luke Rockhold[/autotag], who was asked on the JAXXON PODCAST episode released Monday if he was going to fight Anderson Silva in Karate Combat. His answer is sure to raise some eyebrows.

“Yeah, [autotag]Anderson Silva[/autotag], ([autotag]Michael Bisping[/autotag]) and [autotag]Lyoto Machida[/autotag] all in one night,” Rockhold said.

Come again? You mean like a grand prix?

“It’s a lottery pick,” Rockhold said. “It’s me, Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida and Bisping, lottery pick, double fight, championship, Karate Combat.”

[Insert head exploding emoji here.]

TO BE CLEAR, Rockhold didn’t necessarily say this was in the works, but with Rockhold recently competing in Karate Combat, Bisping saying he’d be down for a Rockhold trilogy in Karate Combat, and Karate Combat trying to make a splash in the combat sports scene, it’s not inconceivable to think this could happen.

Would watch.

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