Five Finest 5-Rounders in MMA!

Rich Franklin vs. Wanderlei Silva, UFC 147
June 23, 2012; Estadio Jornalista Felipe Drumond, Brazil
Franklin took the fight on two-week’s notice after Wanderlei’s original opponent Vitor Belfort backed out due to injury. In a close call match reminiscent of their UFC 99 bout, Silva caught Franklin’s face on the 2nd round and aggressively pounded him on the ground, but Rich defended enough to survive the round and turn the tables in the next three rounds. Franklin would escape Brazil with a unanimous decision victory, 49-46, but claimed he had no recollection of the events that occurred after round two. You just survived Wandy, sir.

Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson, Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier
May 19, 2012; HP Pavilion, California
We can’t help but compare them to Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez –Melendez, as dominating he has been in his division, just can’t seem to find his edge against Thomson. Their first fight in 2008 saw Thomson winning the title by unanimous decision, the second saw Melendez regaining it by another five-rounder win in 2009, and the third one, by means of a controversial split decision, was also won by Melendez. Punches, sprawls, knees – you name it, they did it. Fifteen rounds spent fighting each other and we still want a fourth fight!

Ben Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar, UFC 144
February 26, 2012; Saitama Super Arena, Japan
Despite being the champion, Frankie Edgar was slated as the underdog in his bout against Benson Henderson, so the challenger unanimously taking the decision and winning the UFC Lightweight title came as no surprise. The fashion in which it was done however is one for the books: the many Henderson leg kicks Edgar easily caught, the vicious upkick that wobbled the champion, the crazy double leg takedowns, and the tight guillotine attempts, among others. After a very close bout, the two are set to fight again at UFC 150 this August.

Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen, UFC 117
August 7, 2010; Oracle Arena, California
You must have heard of this thriller – a gritty challenger securely grinding the champion for four rounds, only to tap out with 2 minutes left in the fight. Chael Sonnen spent the majority of the bout pinning his weight on top of the invincible Anderson Silva, pummeling him with punches, hammer fists, and elbows. Just when we thought Sonnen will grind his way to victory, Silva caught him with a split-second triangle choke in the fifth, and the rest is history. Sonnen vowed to seal the deal a second time when they meet at UFC 148 this July.

Dan Henderson vs. Shogun Rua, UFC 139
November 19, 2011; HP Pavilion, California
It was the bloodiest display of two Octagon warriors fighting to the death. Henderson caught a bloodied Rua several times in the first, proceeded to pummel his face on the clinch in the second, pounded him on the ground badly in the third, an autopiloting Rua wobbled an exhausted Henderson with a flurry of punches in the fourth, and completely dominated him with a five minute ground and pound session in the final round. Henderson won the unanimous decision in a five-round clincher considered as the greatest UFC fight ever.