UFC 117

UFC 117: Silva vs. Sonnen was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 7, 2010 at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, United States.^[3]

Background

UFC President Dana White announced via ESPN on Jim Rome is Burning that Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva would face Chael Sonnen on August 7.^[4][5]

White threatened to cut Silva from the UFC if he fought the same way he did in his previous bout in Abu Dhabi at UFC 112. "I'm telling you right now, if he acts like that again in the ring, I will cut him," said White. "I don't care if he's the pound for pound best fighter in the world. I don't care if he's the middleweight champion."

A bout between Joey Beltran and Matt Mitrione was reported to be in the works.^[6] The fight was later moved to UFC 119.^[7]

Stanislav Nedkov was scheduled to make his UFC debut against Rodney Wallace, but was replaced by Phil Davis after sustaining an injury.^[8]

Thiago Silva was scheduled to face Tim Boetsch, but was pulled from the card with an aggravated back injury.^[9] Silva's replacement was Todd Brown.^[10]

Dana White confirmed that the winners of the Nelson/dos Santos and Fitch/Alves fights would receive title shots in their respective divisions.^[11][12]

The Fitch/Alves fight was changed to catchweight status after Alves weighed in at 171.5 lbs; 0.5 lbs over the 171 lbs welterweight limit for non title fights. Alves was fined 20% of his purse.^[13]

Results

Preliminary card

• Welterweight bout: Ben Saunders vs. Dennis Hallman

Hallman defeated Saunders by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

• Heavyweight bout: Stefan Struve vs. Christian Morecraft

Struve defeated Morecraft via KO (punches) at 0:22 of round 2. This bout aired on the PPV broadcast following the Guida vs. dos Anjos fight.

• Light Heavyweight bout: Tim Boetsch vs. Todd Brown

Boetsch defeated Brown by unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).

• Welterweight bout: Johny Hendricks vs. Charlie Brenneman

Hendricks defeated Brenneman via TKO (punches) at 0:40 of round 2.

• Light Heavyweight bout: Phil Davis vs. Rodney Wallace

Davis defeated Wallace via unanimous decision (30–26, 30–27, 30–27).

• Welterweight bout: Dustin Hazelett vs. Rick Story

Story defeated Hazelett via TKO (punches) at 1:15 of round 2.

Main card

• Heavyweight bout: Junior dos Santos vs. Roy Nelson

dos Santos defeated Nelson via unanimous decision (30–26, 30–27, 30–27).

• Welterweight bout: Matt Hughes vs. Ricardo Almeida

Hughes defeated Almeida via technical submission (Anaconda choke)^[14][15] at 3:15 of round 1.

• Lightweight bout: Clay Guida vs. Rafael dos Anjos

Guida defeated dos Anjos via submission (jaw injury) at 1:51 of round 3.

• Catchweight (171.5 lbs) bout: Jon Fitch vs. Thiago Alves

Fitch defeated Alves via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

• Middleweight Championship bout: Anderson Silva (c) vs. Chael Sonnen

Silva defeated Sonnen via Submission (triangle armbar) at 3:10 of round 5 to retain the UFC Middleweight Championship.

Bonus awards

Fighters were awarded $60,000 bonuses.^[16]

• Fight of the Night: Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen
• Knockout of the Night: Stefan Struve
• Submission of the Night: Anderson Silva, Matt Hughes

Reported Payout

The following is the reported payout to the fighters as reported to the California State Athletic Commission. It does not include sponsor money or "locker room" bonuses often given by the UFC and also do not include the UFC's traditional "fight night" bonuses.^[17]

• Anderson Silva $200,000 (no win bonus) def. Chael Sonnen $35,000
• Jon Fitch $108,000 ($54,000 win bonus) def. Thiago Alves $60,000
• Clay Guida $56,000 ($28,000 win bonus) def. Rafael dos Anjos $12,000
• Matt Hughes $200,000 ($100,000 win bonus) def. Ricardo Almeida $35,000
• Junior dos Santos $80,000 ($40,000 win bonus) def. Roy Nelson $15,000
• Rick Story $22,000 ($11,000 win bonus) def. Dustin Hazlett $18,000
• Phil Davis $18,000 ($9,000 win bonus) def. Rodney Wallace $6,000
• Johny Hendricks $40,000 ($20,000 win bonus) def. Charlie Brenneman $8,000
• Tim Boetsch $32,000 ($16,000 win bonus) def. Todd Brown $6,000
• Stefan Struve $30,000 ($15,000 win bonus) def. Christian Morecraft $6,000
• Dennis Hallman $30,000 ($15,000 win bonus) def. Ben Saunders $12,000

^ Thiago Alves was reportedly fined 20 percent of his purse for failing to make the 170-pound welterweight limit. The CSAC's initial report did not include information on the penalty.

Entrance music

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References