On June 28, 2006, a 31-year-old Brazilian named Anderson Silva made his UFC debut against Chris Leben. He was relatively unknown to the UFC audience at the time and many assumed Leben, fresh off publicity from the inaugural season of
The Ultimate Fighter, would beat the Brazilian. However, instead of a great start to an average UFC career for Leben, it was the start of the UFC career for a man who would come to be known as possibly the greatest mixed martial artist to ever walk the earth.
I make no exaggeration in saying that this fight was as one-sided as it gets. Leben, as ever, walked down the Brazilian with constant pressure and attacks, only to be beaten to almost every punch and kick. Silva continued the onslaught until 49 seconds remained in round one. That’s when Silva finished Leben off with punches on the ground, thus earning himself a shot at the reigning middleweight champion of the moment, Rich Franklin.