UFC 117: The Nogueira McBlack-Belt gets the last laugh in Oakland
Props: Gracie Mag
Quoteworthy:
"I’m a Nogueira brothers black belt, and I’d give my life for them. I say that and I don’t need to patronize them nor them me. Rodrigo is my master and Rogério is a brother and teacher to me. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be here today. I decided to put on the gi as a tribute to them and for the things I’d said. I told Rodrigo I’d get the submission in this fight. I told him that. Everything worked out yet again."
Reigning UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva validates his jiu-jitsu black belt under the Nogueira brothers with a fifth round submission win (triangle choke) over Chael Sonnen at UFC 117 on Aug. 7 in Oakland. Sonnen referred to "The Spider's" black belt as "a toy that you get in a happy meal" in his pre-fight trash talk but in the end, was denied what could have been a lopsided win to usurp the Brazilian's title. Now the wrestler and ex-politician must wait for an eventual rematch while Silva cures what ails him and gears up for his next title defense. But has Sonnen paved the way for future challengers?