'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#4) Silva finishes Rich Franklin to become UFC middleweight champion – UFC 64
Coming in at number-four on this list is Silva’s knockout win over Rich Franklin at UFC 64. If Anderson Silva's 49-second knockout win over Chris Leben wasn’t impressive enough, he would definitely impress in his second UFC bout. After defeating Leben in his UFC debut, Silva was given a UFC middleweight title shot.
Like his UFC debut, it was another quick night for Silva. ‘The Spider’ was dominant in the clinch and finished Franklin at 2:59 in the first-round. Silva landed a flurry of knees to the body and then caught Franklin with a knee to the chin. Moments later, Silva landed a head-kick and finished Franklin off with another knee.
Silva became the new UFC middleweight champion and would successfully defend it 10-times and cement his legacy as an all-time great.
Franklin got his rematch with Silva at UFC 77, which ended up being a better effort by the former champion. He took Silva down and there were moments he controlled him against the fence in the first-round. But, the result would end up being the same. Silva connected with a pair of knees and retained his title by second-round TKO.
#3) Silva submits Chael Sonnen – UFC 117
Number-three on this list of Silva’s top UFC finishes is his submission win over Chael Sonnen at UFC 117. Silva’s middleweight title defense against Sonnen is regarded by many as being one of the greatest middleweight fights in UFC history. Sonnen had gotten under a lot of people’s skin after his comments about Silva and Brazil. If this was pro wrestling, Sonnen did some excellent heel work to get the crowd invested into the fight.
At the time, Silva had been making his fights look too easy. He was toying with his opponents and it reached a level where it seemed like a forgone conclusion that he’d win. Silva had come into the fight following his win over Demian Maia that left UFC President Dana White feeling “embarrassed.” But, that wouldn’t be the case at UFC 117 as Sonnen was the one dominating the fight.
Sonnen caught Silva off guard in the first round when he dropped him with a left-hand and then took him down. Sonnen remained aggressive, winning every round, and looked to be closing in on his biggest win. However, Silva caught him with a triangle-armbar and submitted him at 3:10 of the fifth-round to complete a spectacular comeback win.
