Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen. A storied rivalry that deserves top billing.
Their MMA fights in UFC were explosive, main card, title fights. Their boxing fights on random exhibition promotions? Not so much.
But at least Sonnen can exit the ring for the first time in his career without a loss to his name after taking on the enigmatic Brazilian striker.
The five-round exhibition boxing bout in Sao Paulo, Brazil, between the two former UFC superstars ended in a draw as neither fighter was able to live up to their pugilism prestige.
Sonnen, 47, was making his boxing debut and hadn’t taken part in a competitive fight in any promotion since 2019 when he lost to Lyoto Machida at Bellator 222.
Silva, 49, one of the greatest MMA strikers of all time, came into the fight with a 3-2 record in professional boxing. He most recently lost a fight to internet sensation Jake Paul in 2022.
This was the third time Sonnen and Silva have matched up, with the two going head-to-head at UFC 117 in 2010 and UFC 148 in 2012. Both ended with Silva retaining his middleweight belt.
The rounds were two and a half minutes each but felt a bit longer, as the two aging fighters were much slower than many fight fans may remember.
The only knockdown of the fight came after Sonnen got tangled up with Silva in the fourth round and fell to the canvas. It wasn’t officially ruled as a knockdown, meaning the fight went to the fifth.
In the fifth, Silva drew blood for the first time in the fight after a punch to Sonnen’s face got his nose leaking a bit. The referee paused the bout to get Sonnen cleaned up.
After the final bell rang, the contest was ruled as a draw and Silva addressed the Sao Paulo crowd, thanking them and saying it would be the last time he fights in Brazil.
