Wanderlei Silva desperately needed a solid victory and got one in Sydney, Australia at UFC 110.  Silva dictated the pace of the fight from the opening bell, scoring a unanimous decision over Michael Bisping by 29-28 on all three judges’ scorecards.  The victory for Silva (33-10-1) was his first in almost two years, while Bisping (18-3) registers his second loss in three fights.

Silva Score Close But Unanimous Victory

The fight was a rejuvenation for the MMA legend known as the Axe Murderer.  Silva had stumbled recently, scoring just one victory in his past six fights, leading many to speculate whether Silva’s best days had past.  Silva dropped to the Middleweight division for the first time in his career, shedding nearly twenty pounds and looking extremely fit after an eight month layoff due to a nose surgery.

Silva dictated the pace throughout the fight, using his leg kicks to rattle Bisping and keep a comfortable distance.  In the first round, Bisping was able to establish the jab and utilize it to setup two strong takedowns.  Silva was quick to return to his feet, nullifying Bisping’s takedowns.  As the round came to a close, Silva landed with a vicious flurry of punches along the cage wall to take the round.

The second round was much of the same with Silva landing leg kicks and Bisping connecting with jabs and scoring takedowns only to see Silva quickly scramble back to his feet.  Bisping went for a takedown late in the round and was caught by Silva in a guillotine choke.  While Silva tightly cinched it with an arm tied in, he improperly applied the choke, allowing Bisping to escape the round.

The pace of the fight picked up in the third round with both fighters believing they needed the round.  Silva showed he was game, landing some solid blows and fending off weaker takedown attempts by Bisping.  The fight was delayed twice during the round due to a kick in the groin and an eye poke, both delivered by Bisping.  The second injury timeout gave Silva a second wind, as he roared back and attacked Bisping with a range of shots.  As the round wound to a close, Silva unleashed a flurry of punches, connecting with a right hook to the jaw that floored Bisping.  Silva pounced with a couple of blows on the ground as the bell sounded.

The difference in the fight came down to experience and awareness.  Silva was patient throughout the fight, waiting for openings and unleashing a flurry when they presented themselves.  He closed out each round in solid fashion, taking what appeared to be close rounds and turning them in his favor.

Silva’s debut at Middleweight may rejuvenate what appeared to be a career on the decline and on the way to retirement.  With a solid victory over Bisping, Silva immediately throws himself into the conversation of title contender in a weight class without much competition for the current champion Anderson Silva.

The long-awaited showdown between the legendary Brazilians may soon be a reality.