Recently, UFC uploaded the crowning of a new middleweight champion at UFC 64 where Anderson Silva defeated Rich Franklin for the prestigious belt.
Now, the promotion takes fans back to UFC 82 where Silva defended his belt against former UFC Middleweight Champion Dan Henderson. During this time, the Brazilian was on a six-fight winning streak by beating Franklin again via knockout at UFC 77, along with wins over Travis Lutter (via submission at UFC 67), Nate Marquardt (via knockout at UFC 73), Chris Leben (via knockout at UFC Fight Night 5), and Tony Fryklund (via knockout at Cage Rage 16).
Going in, Henderson was coming off a Light Heavyweight title loss to Quinton Jackson at UFC 75. Prior to the championship loss, the California native had come in with big victories over Vitor Belfort (via unanimous decision at Pride 32 – The Real Deal) and Wanderlei Silva (via knockout at Pride 33). While Henderson didn’t have the number of consecutives wins like Anderson Silva, the middleweight certainly had more experience as Henderson was a former Pride Welterweight and Middleweight Champion.
Check out one of Anderson Silva’s early title defenses as he takes on veteran Dan Henderson at UFC 82: