Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen Fight at UFC 117 Inducted into UFC Hall of Fame

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIApril 14, 2024

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The UFC has inducted Anderson Silva’s successful August 2010 middleweight title defense against Chael Sonnen into the fight wing of its Hall of Fame.

The announcement occurred during UFC 300 from Las Vegas on Saturday.

The UFC has four Hall of Fame wings: modern, pioneer, contributor and fight. Silva-Sonnen I marks the ninth bout in the fight wing.

Sonnen had thoroughly dominated the UFC 117 fight through four rounds, leading the scorecards 40-34, 40-35 and 40-36 in front of the Oakland, California crowd at Oracle Arena. However, Silva caught him with the triangle choke in the fifth round and earned the stunning victory.

Silva won Submission of the Night and Submission of the Year, while both fighters earned Fight of the Night and Fight of the Year honors.

Silva and Sonnen faced off again in 2012, with the former fighter earning the victory via a second-round TKO.

Both men are now retired.

Silva ended his career with a 34-11 record (one no-contest) and many records, including 10 successful title defenses and a 2,457-day title reign. He is also in the UFC Hall of Fame’s pioneer wing.

Sonnen, now a promoter and analyst, went 31-17 (one no-contest) during his career. He fought three times for UFC title belts, won two Fight of the Night honors and owns the record for most control time in UFC middleweight history.