LAS VEGAS -- This is the UFC 125 live blog for Thiago Silva vs. Brandon Vera, a light heavyweight bout on tonight's UFC pay-per-view at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.Silva (14-2), who fought a year ago and lost to Rashad Evans at UFC 108, has been bothered the past year with back problems. Vera (11-5) lost his last two fights against Jon Jones and Randy Couture.
The live blog is below.
Round 1: Aggressive start from both as Silva comes out throwing heavy leather. Vera fires back with a nice kick/punch combo. Silva pushes Vera against the cage. Silva grabs Vera's leg and drags him down. Silva in Vera's half-guard and looking to pass. Silva with a few elbows from the top, but Vera is keeping him close, limiting opportunities. Vera tries to scramble to a better position, but instead Silva ends up in side control. Silva lands a few elbows to the face from the position. Vera isn't taking major damage, but neither does he show much prayer to get to his feet. Silva throws a hard backfist and more strikes from the top as the horn blows. Silva stands over him and talks some trash and the two get in each other's face until the ref separates them.
Round 2: The pair come out swinging, still fired up from their verbal battle. Vera lands a hook, Silva back him up with a right hand as the crowd lets go with one of the loudest pops of the night. Silva takes Vera down with a trip takedown one minute in. Silva with strikes from the top. Silva stands over him and lands more strikes. Vera can't improve position. Silva opens up with left hands to the face with 90 seconds left, causing Vera to shift under him. Silva is just dominating the ground battle. Silva continues the assault until the round ran out. Silva 10-9, and he's up two rounds.
Round 3: Vera floored SIlva with a head kick, but let him right back up. Silva fired back a right. Silva pushed him against the fence. We've seen this story before. Silva takes his back, pulls him down, and that might be all she wrote even though there's nearly four minutes left. Silva holds him down for a while, peppering him with left hands. Silva is embarrassing him now, open-hand slapping him. Vera is protecting his face, but not looking to get out. SIlva is alternating slaps and strikes. Silva smacked Vera's backside a few times for good measure. Then he played the drums on Vera's back. I guess he's trying to be entertaining, but the crowd is not overly impressed. The final horn goes off. Silva gets up skipping while Vera gets up with his nose bloodied and busted, and his UFC career likely over.
Winner: Thiago Silva via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
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