Edgar Stuns Penn, Silva by Decision and Hughes TKOs Gracie

UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva is here to entertain you – or at least himself. Sorry to those who read our blog, but Silva doesn’t deserve any ink, text or retention of the belt. When you disrespect the opposing fighter, the sport and disappoint the fans; you’re simply a piece of sh!t… Enough said about the man who thinks he can showboat! News Flash, Silva will never amount to the fighter that Sugar Ray Leonard did.

Edgar scores massive upset over Penn

Massive underdog Edgar spoiled Penn's plan of leaving the lightweight division behind in search of greener pastures at 170 pounds with one of the biggest upsets in UFC history according to most bookmakers.

"The Answer," largely considered a natural featherweight, had one chance to win the fight according to most observers. Edgar needed to stick and move and use his hand speed and defensive footwork to avoid Penn's power while not falling prey to "The Prodigy's" next-level jiu-jitsu.

Mission accomplished.

With Penn sporting a knee brace that left questions regarding his fitness heading into the fight, the former champion looked uninterested in working the fight to the ground. In fact, the two times the fight did hit the floor, albeit momentarily, were at Edgar's choosing. Penn countered well on the feet and seemed to be landing the more powerful shots in the early stages of the fight. But Penn's nemesis, conditioning, looked to play a role in the final three rounds while Edgar only improved as time went on.

The action stayed tight throughout, and scoring the fight at timed seemed reminiscent of the challenges presented by Lyoto Machida and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua's October 2009 bout. But in the end, though all three judges delivered different scores, they reached one conclusion: Edgar has unseated one of the world's top pound-for-pound fighters.

One judge even believed Edgar has taken all five rounds. Penn didn't argue.

"This is it," Edgar said following the win. "B.J. is the greatest lightweight ever, and I just beat him. I just hope I can be half the champion that he was."

Elated at his impressive performance, Edgar even had time to work in a quick joke directed at all those who believed he might be better suited in the WEC.

"The belt doesn't fit," Edgar said with the title draped over his shoulder. "Maybe I am a 145-pounder."

Edgar (12-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) ran his current win streak to four fights following his lone career blemish to in an April 2008 bout with Gray Maynard. Meanwhile, Penn (15-6-1 MMA, 11-6-1 UFC) fights for 25 minutes for just the third time in his career and loses for only the second time in the lightweight division.

After slow start, Hughes overwhelms Gracie

It took a little bit longer than the first time, but Matt Hughes proved he's still a Gracie killer. After a slow start in his bout with Renzo Gracie, Hughes turned up the intensity in the third round and earned a TKO victory every bit as one-sided as his 2006 win over Royce Gracie.

Despite the extensive grappling backgrounds of both fighters, the fight took place entirely on the feet. While neither landed very often with their hands, Hughes laid the groundwork for his eventual win with low kicks that battered Gracie's left leg. Gracie didn't check a single attack, and the damage began to add up.

The second round saw just a bit more action than the first, but the end came clearly in the third. A low kick dropped a wounded Gracie, and Hughes was forced to help him to his feet. Gracie was dropped again by subsequent blows, and he was slow to recover each time. Sensing the finish, Hughes continued to damage the leg, but he also unloaded with his hands. Gracie ate a few jabs, and a straight right sent him to the canvas, forcing referee Herb Dean to end the fight with just 20 seconds left in the contest.

Following the stoppage, Hughes said Gracie's ground skills dictated a standup affair.

"I'm fighting a Gracie," Hughes said. "Somebody like Renzo, I've got to put the odds on my side."

Meanwhile, Gracie – his voice shaking and needing assistance to remain on his feet – admitted that overcoming a two-year layoff at 43 years old proved difficult.

"It wasn't an easy task," Gracie said.

And when event emcee Joe Rogan asked is perhaps a warm-up fight would have been a better choice in his return, Gracie shunned the idea.

"What kind of fighter would I be if I did that?" Gracie asked.

The loss for Gracie (13-7-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) means the family that started the modern era of mixed martial arts is now winless in its past four UFC outings. The last Gracie to claim victory in the octagon is Royce at UFC 4 in December 1994.

Meanwhile, Hughes (44-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC) adds another win to his Hall of Fame-worthy credentials.

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and remember.... You Can't Win, Until You STEP IN.