Before he challenges Cain Velasquez for the heavyweight title at the UFC 160 pay-per-view (PPV) event on May 25, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada, we take a brief look back at the mixed martial arts (MMA) debut of Brazilian "Bigfoot," Antonio Silva.
Vitor Belfort made his middleweight debut at Affliction: "Banned" back in 2008, knocking out fellow UFC veteran Terry Martin and dumping him through the ropes in the process. It would also lead to a second chance inside the Octagon.
On September 10, 2011, Luke Rockhold entered the Hexagon as a +400 underdog against Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Ronaldo Souza. "Rocky" then did what all great underdogs do -- and that's upset the champion.
Before he was light heavyweight champion, Jon Jones was a "Garden State" crime fighter, stopping crackheads dead in their tracks. A few hours later, he reenacted his superhero scenario on Mauricio Rua at UFC 128 to capture the 205-pound crown.
Before UFC 117, Chael Sonnen was a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter with a 4-3 record inside the Octagon and zero finishes. After five rounds against Anderson Silva in Oakland, Caif., he was a bona fide superstar.
Long before he made kindling out of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir snapped his first limb by taking Tim Sylvia's arm home with him after the UFC 48: "Payback" event back in 2004.
Daniel Cormier was one of the top up-and-coming heavyweights under the Strikeforce banner, but not yet ranked among the best the promotion had to offer. That would all change the night he faced off against Brazilian "Bigfoot," Antonio Silva.
Miesha Tate became one of the top female fighters in the world when she submitted Marloes Coenen under the Strikeforce banner, taking the promotion's 135-pound strap and setting up a future title fight against Ronda Rousey.
Not many fans knew who Cat Zingano was when she first stepped foot inside the cage against Raquel Pennington. That would all change following Invicta FC 3, which went down on October 6, 2012 in Kansas City.
Gegard Mousasi would make his Hexagon debut in a light heavyweight title fight against Renato Sobral in the co-main event of Strikeforce: "Carano vs. Cyborg" in late 2009. "The Dreamcatcher" only needed a minute to defeat "Babalu."
When Georges St. Pierre was upset by Matt Serra at UFC 69 in early 2007, it was unclear how the ex-champion would respond to such a crushing defeat. Tasked with finding out was rising welterweight contender, Josh Koscheck, at UFC 74: "Respect."
UFC 158: "St. Pierre vs. Diaz" on March 16 in Montreal isn't the first time Nick Diaz fought for the welterweight title, as he also battled Marius Zaromskis for the vacant Strikeforce strap just over three years ago in Miami.
Wanderlei Silva was in dire need of a win after going 0-3 with two brutal knockout losses. The only thing standing between "The Axe Murderer" and a "conversation" with UFC President Dana White was the rough-and-tumble Keith Jardine at UFC 84.
Before he was drafted to fight Wanderlei Silva at UFC on FUEL TV 8 next month in Japan, Brian Stann was wearing gold in the now-defunct WEC promotion. Here's how the "All American" got the job done in "Sin City."
Meet former middleweight Dan Henderson, light heavyweight co-headliner of UFC 157 this Saturday night in Anaheim, who also holds wins over two former PRIDE FC heavyweight champions.
The place? UFC 98 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The time? May 23, 2009. The result? Brutal second round knockout. Remember when an enigmatic Brazilian karate master knocked out Rashad Evans to become king of the light heavyweights?
In just his second fight as a UFC bantamweight, Renan 'Barao' bagged 'Fight of the Night' honors in his four-minute war of attrition against Brad Pickett at UFC 138 in Birmingham.
Bantamweight up-and-comer Michael McDonald was on the fast-track to bigger and better things inside the UFC's 135-pound weight class, including a potential 135-pound title shot. But first, he had to get through former division kingpin Miguel Torres.
On Nov. 18, 2009, Mike Thomas Brown put his 10-fight winning streak -- along with his featherweight title -- on the line at WEC 44 against a dynamic young up-and-comer named Jose Aldo from Brazil. It did not end well.
Back in 2007, former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar wanted to break into the world's top mixed martial arts (MMA) organization on the fifth season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF); however, the promotion had other ideas.
Win or lose, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton Jackson is expected to leave UFC for good following Saturday night's FOX fight against Glover Teixiera. Wave goodbye to "Rampage," as well as the "Shogun" rematch we'll never get to see.
On Dec. 3, 2011, John Dodson defeated T.J. Dillashaw to capture the bantamweight contract on season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), which would eventually lead to a UFC on FOX 6 title fight against Demetrious Johnson. Here's how it all started.
On Oct. 16, 1998, 21-year-old Vitor Belfort competed in his last UFC fight before defecting to the PRIDE FC banner in Japan, facing off against 22-year-old Wanderlei Silva at UFC 17.5: "Ultimate Brazil." Here's what happened.
On June 24, 2006, British import Michael Bisping stopped fellow Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 3 finalist Josh Haynes to win a six-figure contract and embark on one of the more memorable UFC careers in recent history.
On March 10, 2006, Strikeforce: "Shamrock vs. Gracie" broke the all-time attendance record for an mixed martial arts (MMA) fight card in North America, packing 18,265 fans into San Jose's HP Pavilion in California.
In less than two weeks, Strikeforce will close its doors for good. But not before leaving its mark in the annals of MMA history. Today, we look back at how CEO Scott Coker and Co. landed Fedor Emelianenko when Dana White and UFC couldn't.
