This fight didn't have the traditional back and forth to be considered a "great fight" in the standard sense, but it was easily one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the sport. To see a champion as dominant and seemingly untouchable during that stretch of time as Silva be utterly dominated by Chael was unreal. All his talking before the fight that everyone thought was hot air become increasingly justified as the rounds and seconds passed. Silva getting dropped on his ass, takendown nearly at will, and getting utterly mauled on the ground, albeit by weak but constant ground and pound. But then slowly, the incredible demand of Chael's task began slowing him down and Silva's futile efforts suddenly became very real threats; searching for Kimuras from his guard, throwing elbows off his back, countering Chael beautifully with a step in elbow in the fourth, I believe. You could see that despite the scorecards the tempo of the fight was slipping away from Chael, but all he had to do was just take him down and hold him for five more minutes. Surely, he could do that, right? That whole fight, from Chael's fearlessness and continued dominance to Silva's hail marry submission, was one of the most unexpected and amazing things that's ever happened in mma. You felt like you needed a cigarette after that fight just to calm down, even if you didn't smoke. Incredible stuff.
Great post. Without knowing a bit of the back story it's not the best fight to watch if you are new to the sport. Anderson was just untouchable at the time and Chael came so close! Sonnen, playing the heel as always but you couldn't help but root for him.
