Sunday’s unusual UFC billing featured a heavyweight showdown between win-craving Frank Mir and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva.
Their UFC Fight Night 61 clash led a night full of unprecedented upsets, spine-tingling knockouts and downright gritty action in front of an always-hungry Brazilian crowd in Porto Alegre.
But through all of the action, if was former UFC heavyweight champion Mir who stood tall and proud.
On the strength of some very impressive striking, the 35-year-old dropped Silva early in Round 1 with a devastating left hook and followed up with some nasty elbows from top position to secure the TKO victory.
It was the first time Mir has had his hand raised inside the Octagon since 2011.
Here is what we learned from the quick main event as the heavyweight division received a drastic makeover.
What We’ll Remember About This Fight
Considering this was such a quick and one-sided affair, the left hook that Mir threw early in the first round is the most memorable moment of this fight.
Silva didn’t even have time to throw more than a few punches, let alone regain his consciousness after Mir jumped on top of him and launched some of the nastiest elbows around.
It’s important to understand how good Mir looked on his feet in front of a decidedly pro-Silva crowd.
His ability to stick and move en route to catching Silva mid-exchange gives insight into his ability to bounce back and reclaim glory.
As for Silva, we didn’t see too much from him to suggest he did anything of note.
What We Learned About Mir
There is no dispute that Mir is one of the very best heavyweights to ever compete in the UFC.
His submissions skills and overall resolve, especially outside of the cage, is second to none.
But once again, Mir displayed the elevated striking skills that should launch him on yet another title run, assuming his chin and cardio can hold up under the harshest conditions..
Obviously he has work to do, but this is a good sign for a heavyweight fighter who had dropped four in a row leading into Sunday night.
What We Learned About Silva
There just wasn’t much there for Silva at UFC Fight Night 61.
Despite his need for a victory and a usually dangerous striking game, the 35-year-old Brazilian fell victim to a veteran known for his grappling.
While this victory shouldn’t derail Bigfoot completely, it should be noted that this is one of first times we’ve seen him get backed up on his feet.
It’s possible that Mir’s footwork and quickness surprised Silva, but he should have mixed in some offense to counter his own discomfort.
What’s Next for Mir
Having now regained divisional momentum and a well-deserved victory, Mir should opt to get back into the cage as soon as possible.
His destruction of Silva lasted just under two minutes, so the former champ should still be fresh and eager to build an early 2015 win streak.
With that said, there’s a limited pool of opponents that Mir could take on next.
The most logical choices would be the winner of Mark Hunt vs. Stipe Miocic or Matt Mitrione, but Mir’s chin may not hold up under the pressure of facing Meathead.
What’s Next for Silva
Silva’s UFC record now stands at 2-4 (1), including a no-contest after testing positive for elevated testosterone levels following his classic bout with Mark Hunt back at UFC Fight Night 33.
Needless to say, it’s been a rough road for the Fedor Emelianenko slayer, as he has yet to truly sink his big feet into the UFC heavyweight division.
Sure, he has fought for the title, but UFC champion Cain Velasquez made Silva look like he belonged on the prelims.
At 35 years of age and in the midst of the worst slump of his career, Silva may be on his last legs.
He should be able to fight at least two more times in 2015, but the possibility of losing both bouts makes us believe he’ll never regain his contender status.
Look for Silva to take on either Stefan Struve or the loser of Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Mirko Cro Cop his next time around.
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