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 first front-kick knockout in UFC history. He faked a body strike, landed a front kick to Vitor Belfort’s chin at 3:25 of round one, and followed with two punches. The knockout was named KO of the Year 2011.
Anderson Silva extended his UFC winning streak to 13 consecutive victories, a new record in the promotion. Jon Jones submitted Ryan Bader in round two.
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
Result: Anderson Silva def. Belfort — KO (Front Kick) — R1, 3:25 — FIRST FRONT KICK KO IN UFC HISTORY; KO of the Year 2011
Notable: Jon Jones sub Bader R2; Demetrious Johnson UFC debut; Forrest Griffin def. Rich Franklin UD
The Build-Up
Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort were former training partners whose relationship had deteriorated. During fight week, Belfort publicly accused Silva of ‘wearing a mask’ to hide his true character. Silva responded at the weigh-ins by arriving wearing a literal mask and going nose-to-nose with Belfort. The staredown was one of the most intense of Silva’s title reign.
Main Event
Anderson Silva (c) vs. Vitor Belfort — UFC MW Championship
Anderson Silva and Belfort exchanged cautiously in the opening seconds. Belfort landed a leg kick. Then, with 1:35 remaining in round one, Silva moved in and threw the kick. He faked a body strike to bring Belfort’s guard down, then launched a front kick (teep/push kick) that connected flush on Belfort’s chin. Belfort collapsed immediately. Silva landed two punches on the downed challenger. Referee Mario Yamasaki stopped the fight at 3:25 of round one.
Anderson Silva told the press post-fight: ‘That’s just one of the strikes I was working on. I was focusing on many different types of strikes and attacks.’ Belfort: ‘He faked to the body and kicked to the head. He’s a great fighter.’
Co-Main Event
Jon Jones vs. Ryan Bader — Light Heavyweight
Jones dominated Bader with his reach advantage and unorthodox striking, taking him down and controlling the ground game. He submitted Bader in round two. In the immediate aftermath, Joe Rogan announced that Rashad Evans had injured his knee and would not fight Shogun Rua for the LHW title. Jones was offered the title shot on the spot and accepted.
Full Results
Preliminary Card
Demetrious Johnson def. Norifumi Yamamoto — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 — BW/FW; Johnson UFC debut
Chad Mendes def. Michihiro Omigawa — TKO — R1 — FW
Donald Cerrone def. Paul Kelly — Decision — R3, 5:00 — LW
Main Card
Forrest Griffin def.
Jon Jones def. Ryan Bader — Submission — R2 — LHW; Jones earns LHW title shot at UFC 128
UFC MW Championship — Main Event
Anderson Silva def. Vitor Belfort — KO (Front Kick) — R1, 3:25 — FIRST FRONT KICK KO IN UFC HISTORY; KO of the Year 2011
Bonuses & Awards
KO of the Night: Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort — $70,000 to Silva; also KO of the Year 2011.
Fight of the Night — Jon Jones vs. Ryan Bader — $70,000 to each fighter.
Records & Milestones
Anderson Silva — 13 consecutive UFC victories; new UFC record; extending the longest UFC winning streak in history.
First front kick KO in UFC history — Mario Yamasaki stopped the fight at 3:25 of round one.
Demetrious Johnson UFC debut — wins UD; began a career that resulted in the UFC FW/BW Championship and 11 consecutive title defences.
Jon Jones earns LHW title shot — announced post-fight after Rashad Evans’ knee injury; accepted the Shogun fight on 4 weeks’ notice.
Legacy & Impact
Anderson Silva's front kick of Vitor Belfort is one of the most replayed knockouts in MMA history. The technique had been seen in Karate and Kickboxing but had not previously delivered a UFC championship finish. The faint to the body that dropped Belfort’s guard, the extension, the contact — it was executed in real time at championship speed without pause. Belfort had no response for a strike that nobody anticipated.
The UFC 126 card was stacked in retrospect: Silva’s iconic KO, Jones earning his title shot post-fight, and Demetrious Johnson beginning a journey that would culminate in him becoming the division’s greatest champion. Three storylines that defined 2011 began on the same card.
FAQ
Was the front kick KO at UFC 126 the first in UFC history?
Yes. Anderson Silva's front kick knockout of Vitor Belfort at UFC 126 was the first time a front kick had been used to finish a fighter in the UFC.
What was the bad blood between Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort before UFC 126?
Belfort publicly accused Silva of 'wearing a mask' to hide his true character. Silva responded at the weigh-ins by arriving wearing a literal mask and confronting Belfort face-to-face in an intense staredown.
How did Jon Jones earn his LHW title shot at UFC 128?
After submitting Ryan Bader in round two at UFC 126, Joe Rogan announced in the post-fight interview that Rashad Evans had injured his knee and could not fight Shogun Rua for the LHW Championship. Jones accepted the title shot on the spot. He was given four weeks' notice.
Who made their UFC debut at UFC 126?
Demetrious Johnson made his UFC debut at UFC 126 against Norifumi Yamamoto, winning by unanimous decision. He went on to become the UFC Flyweight Champion and make a record 11 consecutive title defences.
What was Anderson Silva's winning streak at the time of UFC 126?
Silva's win over Belfort extended his UFC winning streak to 13 consecutive victories, a new record at the time. He had also won 14 consecutive professional fights overall.
References
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