When the main event of UFC 134: "Silva vs. Okami" kicks off tonight, it will mark the second time Anderson Silva and Yushin Okami have squared off against one another.
The first bout occurred all the way back in Jan. 2006 in the opening round of the Rumble on the Rock welterweight tournament in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Silva wasn't quite the wrecking machine he is now while Okami had the same reputation he's always had -- a solid fighter who gets the job done however he needs to.
How did the fight play out?
About like you would think, save for one pesky little detail. Silva outgunned Okami standing, peppering him with strikes and avoiding his takedowns effectively. Eventually, though, "Thunder" took "The Spider" to the mat and worked from full guard, arguably where he's best.
And then disaster struck, as Silva lifted his leg and kicked his opponent square in the face, knocking him back with unbelievable force generated so quickly in such a position. The issue with the finish was that Okami had his knees on the mat, making the strike illegal.
The Japanese fighting sensation was reduced to nothing, falling back in a heap of human flesh and destruction. He wasn't knocked out, though, or at least it didn't appear as though he was. Still, he was given a choice to continue or accept the disqualification win. He chose the latter and Silva was officially handed his fourth career loss.
Could Okami have continued? That's a debate worth having and there's a fair argument for both sides. The full video of the fight is included after the break. Judge for yourself.
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