After two years, countless sound bytes and frosty staredowns, the Anderson Silva - Chael Sonnen rivalry is over. Silva decisively put the bad blood to rest on Saturday night, blasting through Sonnen to earn a second-round TKO victory in the main event of UFC 148.

Like always, while Silva and Sonnen were busy settling their differences, a flood of Silva's contemporaries took to Twitter to weigh-in with their thoughts. The resulting reception became a fascinating blend of fighters angry at Silva's antics, and fighters praising Silva for his greatness. NBA superstar LeBron James even got in on the action, as did former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans, who issued a surprisingly direct challenge to "The Spider."

Great night for our sport. Congratulations @SpiderAnderson on the big victory over Sonnen. AGAIN!!!

— juniorcigano (@junior_cigano) July 8, 2012

@lorenzofertitta i want 2 pick a fight with the middle weight champion! Lol Make it happen!! Please!!

— Rashad Evans (@SugaRashadEvans) July 8, 2012

Congrats from one Champ to another!! #Silva yfrog.com/oevnwyyj

— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 8, 2012

And the loneliest man in the world right now is Chael Sonnen. #ufc148

— Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) July 8, 2012

Wipe grease on your arms, grab your opponent shorts, and knee them in the face when they are down. That's how champions should act?

— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) July 8, 2012

Yeah------!!!!!!!Silva!!!!

— kid yamamoto (@KID_KRAZYBEE) July 8, 2012

Wow!!!!!!! The greatest ever by far

— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) July 8, 2012

Guys it wasn't just the knee it was the grease the shorts grab, just wasn't champion like

— Luke Rockhold (@rockholdMMA) July 8, 2012

@SpiderAnderson He's a brown super hero!!!

— Thiago Alves. (@ThiagoAlvesATT) July 8, 2012

Guess I have 10 to go in the @ufc, ;-D...you feel me tweeps???

— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) July 8, 2012

Anderson Silva has reached the greatness of Muhammad Ali, if not surpassed him! What a dominance and control! #GOAL

— Siyar Bahadurzada (@SiyarTheGreat) July 8, 2012

Anderson is the best what can you say.

— Patrick Healy (@BamBamHealy) July 8, 2012

Great job by @SpiderAnderson , @sonnench is still a top middleweight... #mma #UFC148

— Mark Bocek (@MarkBocek) July 8, 2012

huahauhauahuahuahauhauahuahua...

— edsonbarboza (@EdsonBarbozaJR) July 8, 2012

What happened to no knees to the head of a downed opponent

— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) July 8, 2012

Fact: Burger King > Mc Donalds

— Miguel Angel Torres (@MiguelTorresMMA) July 8, 2012

Knee to the booody! #UFC148

— Jason High (@KCBanditMMA) July 8, 2012

What’s with Anderson wiping the Vaseline on his skin tho. #UFC148

— Jason High (@KCBanditMMA) July 8, 2012

Congrats Anderson! U r a true champion! @SpiderAnderson #ufclegend 2nd round TKO!

— Mark Muñoz (@mark_munoz) July 8, 2012

Oh my gosh....

— Michael McDonald (@MaydayMcDonald) July 8, 2012

What makes #Silva great is he is the ultimate opportunist. Calculated killa! #Sonnen spin move was too aggressive/unnecessary.

— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) July 8, 2012

Darn it!!!!

— Sean McCorkle (@BigSexyMcCorkle) July 8, 2012

What an amazing, classy champion. Congrats Anderson.

— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) July 8, 2012

It starts the same...#fb

— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) July 8, 2012

And ends very differently...#ufc148 #fb

— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) July 8, 2012

What was with the shorts grabbing though?

— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) July 8, 2012

I am still pumped off of that fight& even though I wanted @sonnench much respect to the champ. Amazing reign. #UFC148

— Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) July 8, 2012

Great fight. Huge fans of both guys. #UFC148

— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) July 8, 2012

People who say "i just wanna see Silva finally lose." is like saying "Jordan has too many rings"

— Tyler Stinson (@SteeMon84) July 8, 2012

ANDERSON SILVA!!!!!!!!!!!! Haha.

— Justin Lawrence (@AmericanKiddMMA) July 8, 2012

Booooo that fight and the stoppage! @ChrisBeyondSt @BryanHamper

— Dustin Pague (@DustinPague) July 8, 2012

Anderson Silva = Perfection! Sem palavra! É o cara!!!! @SpiderAnderson

— Douglas Lima (@PhenomLima) July 8, 2012

What happens Chael Sonnen? Brazilian kick your ass? @ufc @ufc_brasil

— Thiago Tavares UFC (@TavaresMMA) July 8, 2012