Sherdog Remembers: ‘Spider’ Taps Dan Henderson in C-Bus
On this day 10 years ago in Columbus, Ohio, in a meeting between two champions, Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight king Anderson Silva put away Pride Fighting Championships ace Dan Henderson with a second-round rear-naked choke at UFC 82.
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Anderson Silva is the best 185-pound fighter in the world.
The Brazilian UFC champion proved that definitively Saturday in
Columbus, Ohio, with a second-round submission over the last man to
hold the Pride belt in that division, Dan Henderson.
Henderson, veteran of many wars throughout his career, faired well early in the UFC 82 main event inside a sold-out Nationwide Arena. After deflecting kicks and dancing around the Octagon, the former Greco-Roman U.S. Olympian locked his arms around Silva, 32, and forced him to the canvas.
Henderson landed chopping hammerfists before eventually passing into side-control. The opening five-minute frame marked the first round Silva had lost in six UFC contests, a testament to the kind of opponent Henderson made.
In round two, however, Silva showed why he sits atop most pound-for-pound lists in the sport.
The lanky striker found Henderson's stout chin with a knee and made the American scramble. Silva landed on top, where he delivered power punches that forced Henderson to give up his back.
Henderson, 37, never recovered.
Silva gave up striking in favor of submissions. Showing just how well rounded a mixed martial artist he has become, Silva (21-4) locked in a modified rear-naked choke that caused Henderson to tap with just eight seconds remaining in round two.
In the center of the cage after his victory, Silva knelt, taking a moment to soak in what he just accomplished. Henderson, now 22-7, walked over to greet him, took a knee and offered the highest compliment he could: "You're a true champion."
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