In the co-main event at UFC 208 in Brooklyn, New York, Derek Brunson (16-5) couldn't hold off UFC veteran Anderson Silva (34-8) in a decision loss to arguably the most dominant champion in the organization's history.
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Silva broke down after the fight, signaling the culmination of a comeback many thought could not happen.
Thank YOU, @SpiderAnderson! #UFC208 pic.twitter.com/PILN2gYoRr
— UFC (@ufc) February 12, 2017
Anderson Silva's win over Derek Brunson is his 1st victory since Oct. 13, 2012. It's his 1st official win in 1,582 days.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 12, 2017
While Silva was the aggressor for much of the fight, it was Brunson who landed the heaviest of shots:
We got action! #UFC208 pic.twitter.com/4QschVAJlI
— UFC (@ufc) February 12, 2017
.@DerekBrunson @SpiderANderson turning up the heat! #UFC208 pic.twitter.com/fa0WtLp6sr
— UFC (@ufc) February 12, 2017
At the end of the day, refs saw it differently and awarded the fight to Silva.
The 41-year-old former middleweight champion, Silva, had lost four of his last five bouts, with the only non-loss coming thanks to an overturned ruling win due to a failed drug test.
Silva suffered a devastating knockout loss to Chris Weidman in 2013, and he hasn't been the same since suffering a broken leg.
After rattling off a five-fight win streak, Brunson suffered a TKO loss to Robert Whittaker at UFC Fight Night 101 in November. The 33-year-old Brunson's only other UFC loss came at the hands of top middleweight contender Yoel Romero, by TKO as well.
