Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen clash at UFC 117 announced for UFC Hall of Fame

Monday, April 15, 2024 - 02:00

Anderson Silva submits Chael Sonnen at UFC 117
Anderson Silva submits Chael Sonnen at UFC 117 | Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

One of the greatest rivalries in UFC history will now be immortalized forever in the UFC Hall of Fame.

During the UFC 300 broadcast on Saturday, the UFC announced that the fight between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen at UFC 117 on Aug. 7, 2010, will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame Fight Wing during International Fight Week (June 24-30) this summer in Las Vegas.

Silva and Sonnen have one of the most storied rivalries in UFC history, built largely on the back of Sonnen’s pro-wrestling style antics to hype the fight between the two. Riding a three-fight win streak heading into the fight, Sonnen was a sizeable underdog against the top pound-for-pound fighter in the sport but all that changed when Sonnen hurt Silva with an early punch and then proceeded to dominate “The Spider” for most of the fight with his relentless wrestling and ground and pound.

Sonnen was well on his way to winning the fight to the point that commentator Joe Rogan even joked about crowning him early, and that’s when “The Spider” sprung his trap. With less than two minutes left in the fight, Silva threw up a triangle from his back that caught Sonnen unaware and though he tried to fight it off, the combination of triangle and armbar forced a tap, earning Silva possibly the greatest comeback in UFC history.

Sonnen was in attendance Saturday at UFC 300 and was caught by surprised with the announcement.

Silva and Sonnen join former UFC champions Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Frankie Edgar, and former Pride champion Wanderlei Silva as 2024 Hall of Fame inductees.

Source: 
https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/4/14/24129911/anderson-silva-vs-chael-sonnen-clash-at-ufc-117-announced-for-ufc-hall-of-fame