Anderson Silva vs Daniel Cormier — Fight recap

Daniel Cormier defeated Anderson Silva by unanimous decision after three rounds on July 9, 2016, in a light heavyweight matchup that showcased contrasting fight strategies. Cormier's wrestling dominance proved decisive, landing all three takedown attempts and controlling Silva for 10:34 of total fight time.

The striking disparity was notable: Cormier connected on 33 of 64 significant strikes (51%), while Silva managed only 17 of 43 (39%), landing just nine significant strikes to the head. Silva's inability to prevent takedowns and subsequent control time left him unable to impose his striking game despite landing 4 of 6 leg kicks.

Cormier's methodical approach—combining successful grappling entries with effective ground-and-pound—secured all three rounds on the judges' scorecards. The victory reinforced Cormier's status as a dominant light heavyweight contender with elite wrestling credentials.