Watch Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen full fight video to see the five-round exhibition boxing match between UFC legends and old rivals Silva and Sonnen.
Silva vs. Sonnen took place June 15 in Sao Paulo, Brazil at Spaten Fight Night. Silva, 49, and Sonnen, 47, faced off in a third bout following their legendary two UFC encounters. “The Spider” defended his UFC middleweight title in 2010 with an iconic come-from-behind submission in the final minute at UFC 117, then finished Sonnen again with a second-round knockout at UFC 148 in 2012. Silva vs. Sonnen 1 is set to be inducted into the Fight Wing of the UFC Hall of Fame during International Fight Week ahead of UFC 303.
Full fight video for Silva vs. Sonnnen 3 can be watched above.
Round 1: Both men take the center. Silva certainly looking, as expected, like the more polished boxer. Sonnen is in a low crouch throwing body shots at very awkward angles. They tie up and the ref separates. Silva lands a jab, Sonnen back to the body, Silva moving around against the ropes and lands a combination. Referee warns Sonnen for clinching, and they’re back at it. Sonnen with a head clinch, ref separates again. Silva lands a slight left hand and that’s the round. Both men, to say it politely, taking it easy out there.
MMAFighting scores it 10-9 Silva (I guess?)
Round 2: We’re underway with both men throwing a touch harder than the first. Sonnen continuing to go to the body, Silva with a jab and a right hand, Sonnen clinches again to another warning from the official. Short uppercut from Silva, duck under left from Silva as well. Sonnen with sort of a windmill combination that comes up short.
They stand in the pocket and trade some light punches, Silva lands a good left hand, Sonnen fires a right that falls short. To the middle of the ring they go, but the bell sounds.
MMAFighting scores it 10-9 Silva, 20-18 overall
Round 3: Silva opening up his arsenal a bit more in the third, still not throwing with viciousness, but certainly landing. Sonnen gets a double underhook and pushes Silva into the corner, and as they separate, he does it again. Silva tries to reverse, but ref separates them. Silva with a jab, Sonnen to the body, Silva playing defense and countering with jabs and short rights. They battle in tight in the corner for a moment before the referee sees enough. Four-punch combo from Silva lands, followed by a hard shot to the body. Sonnen trying to bully inside to the body. Silva avoids anything major and the bell rings.
MMAFighting scores it 10-9 Silva, 30-27 overall
Round 4: Sonnen comes out trying to hunt Silva down, but Silva moving around like a butterfly. Short uppercut from Silva, Sonnen ties up, and we separate. About 15 seconds of moving without a punch thrown from either guy, eventually short uppercut from Silva, three-punch combo behind it, and a dig to the body, but nothing ferocious being thrown from either guy. Silva lands a shot and Sonnen falls to the mat. Not sure if it’s a true knockdown or not, but it’s Silva landing most of the punches as the round ends.
MMAFighting scores it 10-9 Silva, 40-36 overall
Round 5: Didn’t appear to be a knockdown, so we go to the fifth. Punches in bunches from both guys. Silva looks much fresher bouncing around. Silva waiting for Sonnen to come in, and when he does, Silva lands a combo. Sonnen rushes in, ties up agains the ropes. Ref allows it for around 10 seconds before separating. Sonnen bleeding from the nose as a brief timeout is called to clean it up. Okie dokie.
Final 20 seconds of this one, Silva lands a pair of jabs, circles around, hits Sonnen about nine times unanswered, and that’s it. Sonnen raising his hands in the air looking like he had a five-round war. Silva looks like he didn’t fight at all. Good little piece of nostalgia, but certainly not any sort of knockdown, drag out affair.
MMAFighting scores it 10-9 Silva, 50-45 overall
After the final bell. Silva and Sonnen remove their gloves. Silva puts his sleeveless hoodie on, walks over to Sonnen’s corner, shakes the hands of the coaches, and hugs Sonnen.
Final Result: Exhibition ends with no winner
Post-Fight: Silva thanks the Brazilian fans as it was promoted as his final fight in Brazil.