Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen
The greatest fight that never crowned a champion.
Chael Sonnen challenged Anderson Silva for the UFC Middleweight Championship at UFC 117 on August 7, 2010. Sonnen dominated the fight with his wrestling and boxing, leading on all judges' scorecards heading into the fifth round, but was submitted via triangle armbar at 3:10 of the final round. The fight earned Fight of the Night honors and was later awarded Fight of the Year by the World MMA Awards.
Quick Facts
- Event
- UFC 117
- Date
- March 12, 2011
- Venue
- MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Weight class
- Middleweight
- Stakes
- UFC Middleweight Championship (Silva defending)
- Result
- Anderson Silva won by TKO (stoppage), Round 5
- Bonus
- Fight of the Night
Lore & Background
Sonnen's trash talk before the fight included stating he was going to retire Silva. After the loss, urinalysis showed Sonnen had a testosterone/epitestosterone ratio of 16.9:1, leading to a suspension and fine by the California State Athletic Commission. Sonnen appealed, claiming he had hypogonadism and was undergoing testosterone replacement therapy, but Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer denied ever approving Sonnen for TRT or speaking to him.
Reader's Guide
The rivalry consisted of a single fight at UFC 117. A rematch was scheduled but cancelled after Sonnen's suspension. Sonnen's only light heavyweight title challenge occurred after his fights with Silva, not before.
Did You Know?
- Sonnen was ahead on all three judges' scorecards (40–34, 40–36, and 40–35) before being submitted in the fifth round.
- Sonnen later stated it was the choke, not the armbar, that made him tap out.
- Sonnen's T/E ratio of 16.9:1 was nearly 17 times that of a normal man and over four times the allowed maximum for an athlete on TRT.
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