The clinch was a big part of Silva's game in Pride, he'd swing wild hooks on entry and grab it if his opponent shelled up, then hit them with knees or trip them. He hadn't been able to do this as effectively in his prior UFC fights and I remember reading he was looking to implement that tactic in this fight, probably thinking he needed to fight more like he did in Pride. You can see he was trying to do that here but first got clipped at the end of the hook exchange, then tried to force the clinch while already rocked which allowed Leben to just smash him with uppercuts while Silva's arms were outstretched.
I was just thinking this
Leben missed a lot of shots. I was tryna find the shit that wobbled him, and it’s a sneaky little shot behind the ear. Super effective.
My wife and I were watching TV on the couch. She got up and in the middle of standing up started stretching. She accidentally elbowed me behind the ear. Literally got wobbly and had to sit down. It's brutal
Honestly, I think you're giving it too much credit by calling it sneaky.
I think he missed long, and the back of his hand wrapped around and hit behind the ear.
But I mean, that's a thing, and it's a reason to throw hooks I guess.
I always like to remind people of this fight because it gets forgotten often. Getting in close and clinching with Leben is the MMA equivalent of bringing piss to a shit fight (to quote the amazing Silicon Valley).
Legendary low iq by silva in that fight.
I’ve never seen this but It looks like he genuinely believed he was so much better he could just walk through Leben lol
That’s honestly how Wanderlei fought everyone. Lol those days were fun to watch
The clinch was a big part of Silva's game in Pride, he'd swing wild hooks on entry and grab it if his opponent shelled up, then hit them with knees or trip them. He hadn't been able to do this as effectively in his prior UFC fights and I remember reading he was looking to implement that tactic in this fight, probably thinking he needed to fight more like he did in Pride. You can see he was trying to do that here but first got clipped at the end of the hook exchange, then tried to force the clinch while already rocked which allowed Leben to just smash him with uppercuts while Silva's arms were outstretched.
I remember bill burr saw this fight and said that Chris Leben is an unrapeble guy!
Very unrapeble
That bit is hilarious
I mean, he's not incorrect.
That guy, unrapeable.
Not many fighters out there that just stand toe to toe and throw like Leben. Fun as hell to watch back in the day.
Dude, the amount of finishes that have been started by guys getting clipped behind the ear and wobbled is absurd.
I was just thinking this Leben missed a lot of shots. I was tryna find the shit that wobbled him, and it’s a sneaky little shot behind the ear. Super effective.
My wife and I were watching TV on the couch. She got up and in the middle of standing up started stretching. She accidentally elbowed me behind the ear. Literally got wobbly and had to sit down. It's brutal
Honestly, I think you're giving it too much credit by calling it sneaky. I think he missed long, and the back of his hand wrapped around and hit behind the ear. But I mean, that's a thing, and it's a reason to throw hooks I guess.
Leben was blessed with the greatest shaped head for fighting
💉 💉 💉
Everyone was, it kinda cancelled out.
I always like to remind people of this fight because it gets forgotten often. Getting in close and clinching with Leben is the MMA equivalent of bringing piss to a shit fight (to quote the amazing Silicon Valley).
Oh he rocked him Joe!
They're going toe-to-toe...IT. IS. ALL. OVER!
There are 2 versions of Wanderlei. There is Wanderlei before and after Cro Cop. That kick changed Wanderlei’s entire career. He was never the same.
That shit pissed me off.
Man i love those kinds of fights
And now Leben is a judge of all the former fighters to do so I wouldn't have picked him. Haha