UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Tito Wordsmith
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Introduction
UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort. February 5, 2011. Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas. Anderson Silva retained the UFC Middleweight Championship with the most spectacular finish of his career: a front kick to the face of Vitor Belfort at 3:25 of round one. It was the first front-kick knockout in UFC history. Belfort had been unbeaten in five consecutive fights and had never been finished so quickly in his 14-year career.
UFC 126 is considered one of the strongest single cards in UFC history. Demetrious Johnson and Donald Cerrone made their UFC debuts. Jon Jones submitted Ryan Bader in round two to build his case for a light heavyweight title fight. All three would go on to become among the sport’s greatest performers.
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Quick Stats
3. The Build-Up
4. Main Event
5. Co-Main Event
6. Full Results
7. Bonuses & Awards
8. Records & Milestones
9. Legacy & Impact
10. FAQ
11. References
Quick Stats
Date: February 5, 2011
Venue: Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Attendance: 10,893
Main Event: Anderson Silva (c) vs. Vitor Belfort — UFC MW Championship (8th title defence)
Result: Anderson Silva def. Belfort — KO (Front Kick to Head) — R1, 3:25 — FIRST FRONT-KICK KO IN UFC HISTORY
Notable: Demetrious Johnson UFC debut; Donald Cerrone UFC debut; Jon Jones def. Bader Sub R2; Forrest Griffin def. Rich Franklin UD
The Build-Up
Vitor Belfort had been originally planned as the UFC 108 co-main event before withdrawing. He had gone 5-0 in his UFC return, finishing four opponents by KO. Anderson Silva had defended the MW title seven times and was regarded as the best fighter in the world. Belfort’s explosiveness and punching power were the credible danger.
Main Event
Anderson Silva (c) vs. Vitor Belfort — UFC Middleweight Championship
Anderson Silva and Belfort circled in the opening exchanges. Silva faked to the body; Belfort’s eyes followed. Silva’s left leg came up in a straight front kick that landed flush on Belfort’s jaw. Belfort dropped to the canvas. Two follow-up punches confirmed the finish. Referee Mario Yamasaki stopped the fight at 3:25.
Belfort post-fight: ‘He faked to the body and kicked to the head. He’s a great fighter.’ Anderson Silva post-fight: ‘That’s just one of the strikes I was working on. I was focusing on many different types of strikes and attacks.’
Co-Main Event
Forrest Griffin vs. Rich Franklin — Light Heavyweight
Forrest Griffin outworked
Full Results
Preliminary Card (Facebook & Spike)
Demetrious Johnson def. Norifumi Yamamoto — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 — FW; DJ UFC debut
Mike Pierce def. Jesse Bongfeldt — Decision — R3, 5:00 — WW
Kyle Kingsbury def. Ricardo Romero — TKO — R1, 0:21 — LHW
Paul Taylor def. Gabe Ruediger — Decision — R3, 5:00 — WW
Main Card
Donald Cerrone def. Paul Kelly — Submission — R2 — LW; Cerrone UFC debut (after WEC merger)
Miguel Torres def. Antonio Banuelos — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 — BW
Chad Mendes def. Michihiro Omigawa — Decision — R3, 5:00 — FW
Jake Ellenberger def. Carlos Eduardo Rocha — TKO — R3 — WW
Jon Jones def. Ryan Bader — Submission — R2 — LHW; Jones builds case for Shogun title fight
Forrest Griffin def.
UFC MW Championship — Main Event
Anderson Silva def. Vitor Belfort — KO (Front Kick to Head) — R1, 3:25 — 8th MW title defence; first front-kick KO in UFC history
Bonuses & Awards
KO of the Night: Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort — $70,000 to Silva; KO of the Year award.
UFC 126 was awarded Best Event of the Year by multiple MMA outlets and critics.
Records & Milestones
Anderson Silva front kick — first front-kick KO in UFC history; Silva’s 13th consecutive UFC win; 8th consecutive MW title defence.
Demetrious Johnson UFC debut — decisive UD win over Yamamoto; future UFC Flyweight Champion and pound-for-pound GOAT contender.
Donald Cerrone UFC debut — submission of Paul Kelly; beginning of a record-setting UFC career (most wins and most finishes in UFC history).
Legacy & Impact
UFC 126’s front kick is one of the sport’s most watched moments. Anderson Silva’s ability to land a technique that had previously been considered impractical — a kick designed for takedown defence repurposed as an offensive KO weapon — was characteristic of the gap between Silva and every other MW of his era. The fact that it landed on a five-fight finishing streak former champion made the result more emphatic, not less.
The fact that three future pound-for-pound greats — Silva, Jon Jones, and Demetrious Johnson — all appeared on the same card makes UFC 126 unique in MMA history. No other single card has featured three fighters of comparable long-term P4P significance at different stages of their careers.
FAQ
Was the front kick Anderson Silva used at UFC 126 the first in UFC history?
Yes. Silva’s front kick knockout of Vitor Belfort at UFC 126 was the first front-kick KO in UFC history.
How did Anderson Silva set up the front kick at UFC 126?
Silva faked toward Belfort's body, drawing Belfort's guard downward, then extended his left leg in a straight front kick (also called a push kick or teep) to Belfort's jaw. Belfort fell and Silva followed with two punches.
Was Vitor Belfort ever finished that quickly before UFC 126?
No. Belfort had been in MMA for 14 years and had never been finished as quickly as the 3:25 first-round stoppage at UFC 126. He had entered on a five-fight winning streak with four KO finishes.
Why is UFC 126 considered a historically significant card beyond the Silva fight?
UFC 126 featured the UFC debuts of Demetrious Johnson (future flyweight GOAT), Donald Cerrone (future record-holder for wins and finishes), and Jon Jones's dominant sub of Ryan Bader — three fighters who would collectively hold P4P significance alongside Silva.
How many consecutive UFC wins did Anderson Silva have after UFC 126?
Silva's win over Belfort was his 13th consecutive UFC victory and his 8th consecutive UFC Middleweight Championship defence.
References
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