The co-main event of UFC 132: "Cruz vs. Faber" was supposed to provide some early fireworks over the Fourth of July weekend when Wanerlei Silva and Chris Leben met in the center of the cage to slug it out. 

Did they ever. 

Silva went running in with those wide looping punches and Leben countered by coming over the top with a wide left hand.

"The Crippler" then unloaded with uppercuts and it didn't take long for a few of them to connect and put "The Axe Murderer" on Queer Street.

Good night, Brazil. 

This was the first fight in over a year for Silva but he never had any time to show any ring rust. He came in right away and answered a kick with punches. 

They didn't land hard enough, though. 

Once the younger and more crisp Leben put his boxing to use, it wasn't long before his ham hocks sent his hero the floor. 

Maybe it wasn't a passing of the torch but it was fun ... just like it was supposed to be.