Judges awarded Cormier with unanimous 30-26 scores.
Advertisement
Anderson Silva, one of the most successful fighters in UFC history, suffered a defeat to UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier at UFC 200.
UFC President Dana White (C) looks on as mixed martial artists Daniel Cormier (L) and Anderson Silva (R) face off during their weigh-in for UFC 200. “I did what I had to do”. It’s tough to switch opponents. It was evident from very early on that Cormier was the much stronger of the two men as he out muscled Silva on the ground and began to flatten him and land some big ground and pound.
Silva was supposed to lock horns with Uriah Hall at UFC 198 last May, but an emergency gall bladder surgery forced him to withdraw from the fight. Stand and exchange with Silva knowing that was the only way he could get upset? I’m a fighter that loves to fight just to be back finally it’s great.
Although it was a successful game plan, the style of the fight did not endear the 205-pound champ to the Las Vegas crowd as they booed at various times of the match.
“I was sad (when Jones was withdrawn)”.
“I have been training for a specific guy for eight weeks”, Cormier said. The American had other ideas, and smothered his foe on the ground for the majority of the fight, much to the chagrin of the baying masses.
Screw it. This is UFC 200 in Vegas so I’m gonna take the slight gamble. Mentally it was draining.
The light-heavyweight champion was the headline act for UFC200 in a rematch against his bitter rival Jon Jones, before Jones tested positive for an illegal substance just days before the event.
That certainly might be the truth. The findings prompted the UFC to cancel the bout since there was little time to schedule a full review of the case. But he accepted the challenge and tried to put up his best fight against his younger and more well-trained opponent.
Advertisement
The Brazilian has fought at 205lbs three times, in the period between 2008 and 2012, winning all three bouts by first-round knockouts. “I want to go win it for us and having this be a historical event with all of the people involved, I think nearly everyone on the card has won a bonus of some sort at some point in their career”.
