The bout eventually went to five rounds with Bisping the eventual victor but several believed he was finished in the concluding moments of the third round.
Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and Michael Bisping were engrossed in a tight contest at UFC London, with both parties intermittently sneaking through the guard to land some punishing hits.
The packed out O2 arena in London were waiting to see which contender would blink first and by the close of the third round, it seemed like we had an answer.
With just a few seconds to go, Bisping looked to referee Herb Deane looking for his mouthpiece which he misplaced at some point during the fight. In doing so, Bisping broke a cardinal rule and left himself exposed. And Silva needed no invitation to exploit the carelessness.
Can we go back to the end of round 3?! #WhatHadHappenedWas https://t.co/VqquhAt4Gn
— UFC (@ufc) February 27, 2016
He still lost but god damn that knee was beautiful https://t.co/JIeLlGvBF2
— 30 Second Fights (@ThirtySecFights) February 28, 2016
The Brazillian landed a devastating knee to the face that sent Bisping slumping to the canvas. Bisping looked to be unable to continue and the 40-year-old naturally proceeded to the fence to celebrate the assumed win.
But bizarrely, it wasn't over. The fight was delayed for several minutes, but Bisping was eventually declared fit to continue, a decision which split the internet in two.
What a flying knee 👌👀#UFCLondon #50khttps://t.co/xYjdknswBM
— World of MMA (@CM_fights) February 28, 2016
Anderson silva with that knee 🙈
— Oli HarringtonâœŒï¸ (@odotharrington) February 28, 2016
How Anderson silva didn't win with that knee baffles me
— Matty (@Mattydurrans97) February 28, 2016
Again, Anderson Silva did not deserve to win the fight because of one knee... Some people know nothing about mma
— Tom W(right) (@iTomWright) February 28, 2016
People talking about that flying knee in round 3 by Anderson Silva like it should have won him the fight? #UFCLondon
— Tom W(right) (@iTomWright) February 28, 2016
Anderson silva with that knee tho God dammn
— A A RON (@LORD_THURNIS) February 28, 2016
I'm glad that Anderson Silva lost. He's just clowning almost the entire fight and that knee to the head at the 3rd round was a cheap shot.
— Marlon Bautista (@ProphecyMaster) February 28, 2016
