Sherdog’s Top 10: UFC Fight Night Knockouts

5. Anderson Silva vs. Chris Leben
UFC Fight Night 5
June 28, 2006 | Las Vegas

“The Spider” scurried into the Octagon for the first time at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, and nothing was ever the same again. He had won 18 of his first 22 pro bouts while competing in organizations like Shooto, Cage Rage and Pride Fighting Championships, so he was far from a typical UFC rookie. Still, no one could have foreseen the historic tear upon which he was about to embark. He was paired with former World Extreme Cagefighting champion Chris Leben in the UFC Fight Night 5 headliner in Las Vegas, where less than 1,000 fans were in attendance. Leben spewed plenty of pre-fight rhetoric, making it clear he intended to remain unbeaten under the Ultimate Fighting Championship banner at the Brazilian’s expense. When they finally locked horns, it became vividly and violently clear that “The Crippler” had no business being in the cage with Silva. The fight lasted a mere 49 seconds. Silva fired two jabs that landed flush, dumped “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 1 semifinalist to the mat and tried to finish it on the floor. Once Leben returned to his feet, Silva connected with a concussive knee to the head that sent the southpaw crashing to the canvas and prompted referee John McCarthy to intervene on his behalf.

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