Ultimately UFC 156 emerged as a night of upsets, and nowhere was that more evident than the top of the card at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, NV on Saturday.
Antonio Silva stunned the mixed martial arts world, crumbling Alistair Overeem with a third-round blitzkrieg to take the early lead in 2013’s “Knockout of the Year” running. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira turned back the clock, outpointing a suddenly listless Rashad Evans en route to a unanimous decision win. And to top it all off, former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and reigning UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo engaged in a grueling, back-and-forth five-round struggle.
In the end Aldo retained his crown, claiming victory on the judges’ scorecards, 48-47 and 49-46 (x2). However, like many of Edgar’s past bouts, the ruling was not without controversy.
What a great fight!!!
— Chuck Liddell (@ChuckLiddell) February 3, 2013
I got it 2 1/2 to 2 1/2 damage Aldo, both legends!
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) February 3, 2013
Another CLOSE decision…hhmmm…@ufc #UFC156
— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) February 3, 2013
I think Aldo 1 and 2… Frankie 3, 4 and 5. Agree?
— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) February 3, 2013
there should have been a new feather weight champion. frankie edgar is still my hero 🙂
— Nam Phan (@NamPhanMMA) February 3, 2013
I could watch Edgar and Aldo fight about a million more times and still be happy. #UFC156
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) February 3, 2013
I want Aldo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— Chan Sung Jung (@KoreanZombieMMA) February 3, 2013
What am I a mirage?!?!?! @ufc @danawhite #LamasNext
— Ricardo Lamas (@RicardoLamasMMA) February 3, 2013
I am stunned that people are stunned that jose won that fight. To be the champ you better beat the champ n that did not happen
— Jens Pulver (@Jens_Pulver) February 3, 2013
This could be 2-2! Would have never thought that could happen after the 1st round
— Dana White (@danawhite) February 3, 2013
Frankie is one tuff mofo!!!
— Mike Pyle (@Mike_Pyle) February 3, 2013
Close but I feel that @frankieedgar WON!
— Duane Ludwig (@DUANEBANGCOM) February 3, 2013
Joe Rogan could have you thinking that the person who is losing the fight , is winning the fight ! #UFC156
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) February 3, 2013
That front kick has dropped many a fighters…damn Edgar is tough
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) February 3, 2013
Shame! @frankieedgar is the best fighter ever to lose his last 3 fights, but not really lose his last 3 fights.
— Din Thomas (@DinThomas) February 3, 2013
I love @frankieedgar !The Man
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) February 3, 2013
Had Aldo winning that but Frankie Edgar is still my hero. Two legends went at it tonight in the main event. Awesome fight! #UFC156
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) February 3, 2013
In my opinion Frankie won a very close fight.
— Tom DeBlass (@TomDeBlass) February 3, 2013
@josealdojunior is great champion congrats bro
— glover teixeira (@gloverteixeira) February 3, 2013
Great title fight. Saw Frankie winning 4 and maybe 5, but Aldo is a freak and is great at defending leg attacks.
— The Aaron Simpson (@aaronsimpson) February 3, 2013
Judges suck
— Chris Clements(@menaceclements) February 3, 2013
Am I the only one who thought @frankieedgar won the last 3 rds. I really thought Frankie won 48-47 @ufc @danawhite
— Brock Jardine (@BrockJardine) February 3, 2013
Frankie didn’t pull it off in the end but what a fight also judges who had it 49-46!? are crazy!! Frankie 100% had the last 2rounds #UFC156
— John Maguire (@MaguireTheOne) February 3, 2013
Franky wins the last two rounds, but Aldo did the most damage and should win the fight. 3-2 for Aldo #ufc156
— Nik Lentz Ufc mma (@NikLentz) February 3, 2013
The right guy won, but horrible score cards…..#ufc156
— Nik Lentz Ufc mma (@NikLentz) February 3, 2013
I have Aldo winning the first 3 rounds + the fight. Great fight. More importantly is #UFC156 the best card top to bottom ever??
— Kyle Kingsbury (@Kingsbu) February 3, 2013
Gotta go 48-47 Aldo but 3rd round was razor close
— Steven Siler (@Stevesiler) February 3, 2013
I scored Aldo 3-2.
— Anthony Perosh (@AnthonyPerosh) February 3, 2013
Man Frankie is a warrior
— Amir Sadollah (@amirMMA) February 3, 2013
NOGUEIRA OUTPOINTS EVANS
I had that fight 2 rds to 0 for Nog. Didn’t count the first round cause it ABSOLUTELY SUCKED!!!
— Dana White (@danawhite) February 3, 2013
If you could change Sugar Rashads nickname what would you change it too? Sugar free Rashad? @ufc
— Ulysses Gomez (@uselessgomez) February 3, 2013
Interesting night for the Blackzilians
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) February 3, 2013
Not a great fight to watch between Rashad & Lil’ Nog & it was super close but thought Rashad squeezed it out. #UFC156
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) February 3, 2013
Great fight for minotouro
— glover teixeira (@gloverteixeira) February 3, 2013
I wish instead of bouncing around Evans would just fight! Let them go!
— Krzysztof Soszynski (@KSOSufc) February 3, 2013
The evening of UPSETS……
— Gegard Mousasi (@mousasi_mma) February 3, 2013
Brazilian s cleaning up tonight.
— jimi manuwa (@POSTERBOYJM) February 3, 2013
— Ronaldo Jacaré (@JacareMMA) February 3, 2013
The Nogueira brothers surprise me…once again #ufc156
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) February 3, 2013
Little nog won 100% @ufc
— Manny Gamburyan (@MannyGamburyan) February 3, 2013
….I would say 29-28 Nog….possible draw #ufc156
— Nik Lentz Ufc mma (@NikLentz) February 3, 2013
Well that fight was a let down! #UFC156
— John Maguire (@MaguireTheOne) February 3, 2013
And the winner of lil nog vs @sugarashadevansis……..Chris Weidman??? Lol #UFC156
— Steven Siler (@Stevesiler) February 3, 2013
Lets do this Anderson!
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) February 3, 2013
SILVA CRUSHES OVEREEM
Wow what a KO
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) February 3, 2013
There is nothing behind the words!
— juniorcigano (@junior_cigano) February 3, 2013
WOW!!! Did I really just see that ??
— BrutalJohnnyBedford (@BrutalBedford) February 3, 2013
Somebody get Bigfoot a new hat haha that was awesome!
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) February 3, 2013
I love this shit! @ufc @danawhite
— Jim Miller (@JimMiller_155) February 3, 2013
I JUST JUMPED ALLLLL OVER THIS PLACE! Wow! #UFC156
— Jason High (@KCBanditMMA) February 3, 2013
@bigfootsilva @bigfootsilva couldn’t get a better present 🙂 thank you thank you thank you
— Hector Lombard (@HectorLombard) February 3, 2013
WOW!!! Pretty sure Bigfoot was asking Overeemhow u like them apples. #respect was just taken
— Brock Jardine (@BrockJardine) February 3, 2013
Um…….Upset? Very few saw that happening. My God!!!
— Pat Miletich (@patmiletich) February 3, 2013
Damn that was a sick KO!!!!!! @espn@danawhite #ufc156 @ufc
— Ed Herman (@EdHermanufc) February 3, 2013
Haha! “@scottiemc2: If jay Leno and tony Robbins had a kid he just knocked out overeem.”
— Ulysses Gomez (@uselessgomez) February 3, 2013
Upsets make UFC’s! Huge K.O. by Bigfoot. TKO my ass!
— Aaron Riley (@aaronrileymma) February 3, 2013
I didn’t see that coming #BigFootKO wow. #UFC156
— John Dodson III (@JohnDodsonMMA) February 3, 2013
Referees tryin to let people die tonight. Better than stopping it early tho… #UFC156
— Jason High (@KCBanditMMA) February 3, 2013
Wow big foot!!!!!
— Melvin Guillard (@Young__Assassin) February 3, 2013
Bigfoot over Overeem. RIGHT hands!! Dayyyyyum! Can’t get cocky at any weight in the @ufc let alone at heavyweight. #UFC156 #upset
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) February 3, 2013
Holy freaking crap!!!!!
— Demetrious Johnson (@MightyMouseUFC) February 3, 2013
That’s the most excited I’ve seen my timeline ever. Ever. #UFC
— Stipe Miocic (@smiocic) February 3, 2013
OH MY GOOOOOOOODDDDDD!!!!
— Kyle Kingsbury (@Kingsbu) February 3, 2013
Holy shiiiiit!
— chad mendes (@chadmendes) February 3, 2013
Wow what a comeback! #ufc156
— Darren Elkins (@Darren_Elkins) February 3, 2013
Cheaters never win . Good for you Antonio Silva #UFC156 told ya
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) February 3, 2013
Holy #%^* Big Foot FTW!!!!!!!!! #ATT @americantopteam
— Nik Lentz Ufc mma (@NikLentz) February 3, 2013
Mma is such as a genuine sport that it shows in its most pure form.
— Raphael Assuncao (@RaphaAssuncao) February 3, 2013
Holy shit this place just erupted!!! #UFC156
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) February 3, 2013
OOPS
— Pat Barry (@HypeOrDie) February 3, 2013
Wow! Congrats silva didnt see that coming!
— Scott jorgensen (@Scottjorgensen) February 3, 2013
That made me smile 🙂
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) February 3, 2013
Oooooohhhhhh shhhhhiiiiitttttt!!!!!!
— jimi manuwa (@POSTERBOYJM) February 3, 2013
“@rship78: Beating Alistar Overeem?? So easy a caveman could do it. #Bigfoot @lougaudinotufc“lmfao
— Louis Gaudinot (@LouGaudinotUFC) February 3, 2013
Wow the reem got knocked out standing up
— roland delorme (@rolanddelorme1) February 3, 2013
Alistar #Overated.
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) February 3, 2013
Velasquez vs Dos santos 3!!! Let’s do it UFC
— juniorcigano (@junior_cigano) February 3, 2013
Who is the king of Miami?? Quem e o rei de Miami?? Obg. A todos pela torcida…”Amo todos vcs”…Brasillllll twitter.com/BigfootSilva/s…
— Antonio Pezao Silva (@BigfootSilva) February 3, 2013