I mentioned how the end of Anderson Silva’s MMA career is headed the way of BJ Penn in my review of his previous bout. This one makes the comparison even closer. Silva’s fall from grace, which began years ago at the hands of Chris Weidman, isn’t as bad; Penn has seven losses in a row; but it’s bad. This was promoted as his farewell, but he says in the post interview that he doesn’t know if it will be. As much as I look forward to his fights; he’s my favorite fighter, so this relatively unpopular main event was my most anticipated of the year; I hope it is.

That’s not to say that Anderson Silva; the oldest fighter in The UFC; is no longer a worthy contender. He may not have access to The Matrix anymore, but he can still win rounds. Uriah Hall knocks him down at the end of the third, but Silva is winning the fight, rather a tentative Hall is losing, until then. It’s the first time Silva goes down from a face punch since he fought Michael Bisping. Then it happens again in the forth. It’s a sad ending indeed, though it’s Hall who seems affected by it the most. The bout ends with him embracing and weeping with his hero.

my rating : 3 of 5

2020