• UFC 162

Weidman stuns champion Silva

Chris Weidman felt 'destined for the win' © Getty Images

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The day that no mixed martial arts fan thought would ever come arrived Saturday night at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Chris Weidman dethroned longtime middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

A left hook caught Silva in the second round and sent him to the canvas. Weidman jumped on the fallen champion and began delivering more hard punches.

Silva's head snapped backward from the clean shots and referee Herb Dean was forced to save him at the 1:18 mark.

Shock reverberated throughout the arena, except on the face of Weidman.

Before he stepped in the cage at UFC 162 to face Silva, there wasn't the slightest doubt in Weidman's mind that he would win.

For the past three-plus years, Weidman had been biding his time, waiting for the day when he would unseat the man considered the greatest mixed martial artist ever.

"I felt I was destined for this," Weidman said. "I imagined doing this many times in my head, but it's surreal."

Weidman expressed respect for the 38-year-old Silva, but wasn't pleased with the taunting antics that the champion displayed in the cage.

"It [ticked] me off when someone tries to do that [clown around with] me," said Weidman, who improved to 10-0.

Silva suffered his first loss in UFC competition. He had successfully defended the title a UFC-record 10 times.

After the loss, Silva said he has no intention of asking for a rematch. In fact, Silva said he will not seek to regain the title again.

"I trained hard for this fight," Silva said. "I changed my life. I changed the life of my family. Chris Weidman tonight is the champion. Chris is the best.

"I won't fight [again] for the belt. I had the belt for a long time."

Silva will, however, fulfill his UFC contractual obligation.

"I have 10 more fights [with UFC], but not [necessarily] for the belt."

Silva falls to 33-5 as a pro.

This article first appeared on ESPN.com

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