UFC Fight Night 5: Silva vs. Leben | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Roe Jogan
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Introduction
UFC Fight Night 5. June 28, 2006. The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas. Free on Spike TV — lead-in for the Blade: The Series premiere. In 49 seconds, Anderson Silva knocked out Chris Leben with a knee and announced himself as the future of the middleweight division. It was his UFC debut.
Leben had been unbeaten inside the Octagon and had promised before the fight to remain so. Silva threw two jabs, tossed Leben to the mat, followed him down, and when Leben returned to his feet, landed a knee to the head that ended the fight. Rashad Evans defeated Stephan Bonnar by majority decision. Jon Fitch stopped Thiago Alves by TKO 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: June 28, 2006
Venue: The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Broadcast: Free on Spike TV — lead-in for Blade: The Series; 1.4 rating
Attendance: 954; Gate: $134,368
Main Event: Anderson Silva vs. Chris Leben — Middleweight
Result: Anderson Silva def. Chris Leben — KO (Knee) — R1, 0:49 — Silva UFC debut; Knockout of the Night
Notable: Evans def. Bonnar (majority); Fitch def. Alves (TKO); Goulet def. Cummo (Fight of the Night)
The Build-Up
Anderson Silva arrived with an MMA record of 17-4 and experience in PRIDE, Cage Rage, and Shooto. The hardcore community knew who he was. Chris Leben had been outspoken before the fight, promising he would knock out the debuting Brazilian. The card served as a TUF alumni showcase: Evans, Bonnar, Koscheck, Fitch, Cummo, Goulet.
The event was broadcast as the lead-in for the premiere of Blade: The Series on Spike TV, giving it an unusually prominent programming slot for a Fight Night event.
Main Event
Anderson Silva vs. Chris Leben — Middleweight (UFC Debut)
Anderson Silva threw two jabs that landed cleanly. He grabbed Leben and tossed him to the mat. When Leben returned to his feet, Silva's knee connected with his head and the fight was stopped at 0:49 of round one.
Anderson Silva fought Rich Franklin for the Middleweight Championship at UFC 64 four months later and won by TKO in round one, beginning the longest title reign in UFC history — six years and eleven months. The 49-second debut is where it started.
Co-Main Event
Rashad Evans vs. Stephan Bonnar — Light Heavyweight
Rashad Evans had won the TUF 2 Heavyweight tournament. Stephan Bonnar had won the TUF 1 Finale co-main and was among the UFC's most popular fighters. Evans won by majority decision — 30-27, 29-28, 28-28 — in a closely contested three-round fight.
Rashad Evans continued building toward the LHW Championship, which he won at UFC 87 in 2008.
Full Results
Preliminary Card
Jorge Santiago def. Justin Levens — KO (Knee) — R1, 2:13
Jon Fitch def. Thiago Alves — TKO (Upkick and Punches) — R2, 4:37
Jason Lambert def. Branden Lee Hinkle — TKO (Punches) — R1, 5:00
Josh Koscheck def. Dave Menne — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00
Main Card
Mark Hominick def. Jorge Gurgel — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00
Rashad Evans def. Stephan Bonnar — Decision (Majority) — R3, 5:00 (30-27, 29-28, 28-28)
Rob MacDonald def. Kristian Rothaermel — Submission (Armbar) — R1, 4:01 — Submission of the Night
Jonathan Goulet def. Luke Cummo — Decision (Majority) — R3, 5:00 — Fight of the Night
Main Event — Middleweight (UFC Debut)
Anderson Silva def. Chris Leben — KO (Knee) — R1, 0:49 — Knockout of the Night
Bonuses & Awards
Fight of the Night: Jonathan Goulet vs. Luke Cummo.
Knockout of the Night: Anderson Silva — knee finish of Chris Leben at 0:49 of round one.
Submission of the Night: Rob MacDonald — armbar of Kristian Rothaermel at 4:01 of round one.
Records & Milestones
Anderson Silva's UFC debut — 49 seconds; knee finish; immediate KO of the Night; MW title four months later at UFC 64.
954 in attendance — the intimate Hard Rock venue gave the debut a club-fight atmosphere; 1.4 million watched on television.
Legacy & Impact
UFC Fight Night 5 is Anderson Silva's origin story. A free Spike TV broadcast in a small Vegas venue produced a debut that circulates as one of the sport's defining first impressions. Silva went on to hold the Middleweight Championship for six years and eleven months. Chris Leben in 49 seconds is the first line of that story.
The card was also Rashad Evans's first step toward the LHW Championship, and the first meeting between Jon Fitch and Thiago Alves — two fighters who later had a celebrated rematch at UFC 117 in 2010.
FAQ
When and where was Anderson Silva's UFC debut?
June 28, 2006, at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Broadcast free on Spike TV.
How did Anderson Silva finish Chris Leben at UFC Fight Night 5?
Silva threw two jabs, tossed Leben to the mat, followed him down, and when Leben returned to his feet, landed a knee to the head. TKO at 0:49 of round one.
Was Anderson Silva's UFC debut on pay-per-view?
No — free on Spike TV as the lead-in for the Blade: The Series premiere. The event drew 954 live and 1.4 million television viewers.
What did Anderson Silva do after his UFC debut?
He fought Rich Franklin for the Middleweight Championship at UFC 64 four months later, winning by TKO in round one, beginning a title reign of six years and eleven months.
What other fights were on the UFC Fight Night 5 card?
Rashad Evans defeated Stephan Bonnar by majority decision. Jon Fitch stopped Thiago Alves by TKO. Jonathan Goulet won Fight of the Night over Luke Cummo by majority decision.
References
Comments