Written by Mike Coppinger at USAToday.com
Anderson Silva buried his bald head in his left hand for about 10 seconds.
He needed time to collect himself before fielding the question from Joe Rogan. Just how does it feel to finally taste victory again — the all-time great’s first win since October 2012?
“I am so happy. I am so happy because I worked very hard for this fight,” Silva, 41, said. “I wanted to give my best for my fans and for New York. New York is a very special place to me. It makes me feel like I’m at home. I’m just so happy.
“I am sorry for being so emotional but it is just because I am happy to be here. Next, I just want to go home and look at what will be the next challenge for me. I am very thankful to New York and to my fans.”
“The Spider” entered UFC 208 on Saturday with a record of 0-4 (one no contest) in his last five fights. His last victory prior to this? A first-round TKO to extend his record for most consecutive title defenses. Finally, though, Silva is back to winning ways after a controversial unanimous decision win over Derek Brunson.
All three judges scored it for Silva: 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28. USA TODAY Sports gave the nod to Brunson, 29-28.
Silva, the UFC’s No. 7 middleweight, was on his back for the final minute-plus of the three-round bout as Brunson, in full mount, whacked him with rights and lefts.
Silva (34-8, 1 NC) also ate a slew of uppercuts in the clinch while he clasped his hands around Brunson’s neck in an attempt to land the knee’s that made him such a feared fighter.
“Everyone is telling me that I won,” Brunson, the UFC’s No. 8 middleweight, said. “I feel terrible. It’s not Anderson’s fault or the UFC’s fault. I took this fight on short notice and, to have this happen, is just crazy to me. I take this seriously. This is my job. I put everything into this and I got robbed. It sucks.”
But judges preferred Silva’s activity level. He was the aggressor, while Brunson (who has now lost two in a row) fought from a surprisingly tentative stance for most of the encounter.
The Brazilian drilled Brunson with a roundhouse kick in Round 1, before Brunson, 33, connected with a series of uppercuts. Silva ended the frame with a flying knee that missed, sending him to the mat.
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