At UFC 148, it’s not only a necessity, it’s an absolute and categorical must, that Anderson Silva leaves the Octagon with a victory that will forever etch his name in the annals of MMA history—a win that will restore his aura of greatness in the eyes of his peers, fans and naysayers.
To some and maybe even to Silva, Chael P. Sonnen was just a stepping stone on his trajectory to greatness, but that was farthest from the truth as “The Spider” found to his cost at UFC 117—he encountered the rudest of awakenings—he was both victim and accomplice to a complete and utter mugging.
The MMA world stood aghast, wide-eyed and gobsmacked as they witnessed the No. 1 pound-for-pound king getting served on a platter of humble pie, humiliation and embarrassment.
Long story short, it was a rout, save for the fact he just about mustered a Hail Mary submission in the dying minutes of the final frame.
Sonnen, though the vanquished, basked in the glory of his humiliated foe and from thenceforth incessantly rubbed salt into Silva’s gaping wounds
Some sections of the media as well as the fans were mesmerized and intoxicated by the rhetoric-spewing Sonnen, so much so they actually believed he was the sole combatant in the 185-pound class that had Silva’s number.
Now it’s up to Silva to change their mindset.
Come UFC 148, the stakes will be higher than they’ve ever been for the 37-year-old Brazilian…period.
A decision win is out of the question.
A victory via submission happened two years ago.
Only a sublime performance and knockout of epic proportion will suffice.
In his last two outings, Anderson Silva (31-4 MMA, 15-0 UFC) has scored a brace of mind-boggling knockouts (back-to-back); to restore his aura of greatness, it’s a prerequisite Sonnen makes the hat trick.
UFC 148 is scheduled for July 7, 2012, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.
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