Anderson Silva's Epic Comeback: Chokes Chael Sonnen in UFC 117 Thriller

Anderson Silva's Epic Comeback: Chokes Chael Sonnen in UFC 117 Thriller

What happened?

Sixteen years ago, on August 7, 2010, Anderson Silva faced off against Chael Sonnen in the UFC 117 main event at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. Sonnen dominated Silva with his wrestling for the first four rounds, seemingly on the cusp of a major upset. However, Silva snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with an armbar-triangle combination, forcing Sonnen to tap with less than two minutes left.

Why it matters for Anderson Silva

Silva's incredible comeback extended his record for middleweight title defenses to seven, cementing his status as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time. The Fight of the Night winner also saw Silva double dip for Submission of the Night honors, which he later took Sub and Fight of the Year honors from most outlets.

What comes next?

Less than two years later, Sonnen worked his way back to a rematch after a series of controversies, including suspensions for elevated testosterone and a money laundering conviction. The rematch at UFC 148 looked like a duplicate of the first for the initial five minutes, but Silva took advantage of a sloppy Sonnen spinning attack and put him away.

Key Takeaways:

• Anderson Silva extended his record for middleweight title defenses to seven with a stunning comeback against Chael Sonnen in UFC 117.
• Silva's incredible armbar-triangle combination forced Sonnen to tap with less than two minutes left in the fight.
• The Brazilian MMA legend cemented his status as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time with the victory.

Stats Table:

Anderson Silva's incredible comeback against Chael Sonnen in UFC 117 is a testament to his resilience and skill. The Brazilian MMA legend extended his middleweight title defenses to seven with a stunning armbar-triangle combination.