After a storied run as the undisputed middleweight champion, Anderson Silva returned to Brazil in 2011 to settle a score with Japanese contender Yushin Okami. Silva had previously suffered a controversial disqualification loss to Okami at Rumble on the Rock 8 after landing an upkick to a downed opponent. Six years later, Silva left no doubt in front of a home crowd, connecting with a sneaky right hand straight during an exchange and following with relentless ground strikes to secure a brutal knockout victory in his sophomore UFC Brazil outing.
Silva continued to demonstrate his dominance in his final middleweight title defenses, including a notable win over Stephan Bonnar at the light heavyweight limit. In that fight, Silva invited pressure from Bonnar, evaded attacks with his trademark composure, and used precise takedowns and brutal knees to the body before finishing with a series of heavy ground strikes. His performances solidified his legacy as one of MMA’s most lethal and technically gifted fighters, combining precision striking and ground control to devastating effect.
