Silva pressures Hunt. Picture: Adam Head. Source: Adam Head / News Limited
<b></b>AN incredible five-round, 25-minute fight between Aussie Mark Hunt (9-8-1 MMA, 4-2-1 UFC) and Brazilian Antonio Silva (18-5-1 MMA, 2-2-1 UFC) exceeded all expectations of a main event bout at UFC Fight Night 33 in Brisbane today.
But when it came down to picking a winner, two of the three judges just couldn't do it.
Those two officials scored the bout 47-47 while the third judge had Hunt winning 48-47.
The fight night was the UFC's Brisbane debut and was a major success as a sold-out crowd (12,000 people) witnessed one of the greatest heavyweight mixed-martial-arts fights of all time.
When UFC announcer Bruce Buffer announced the decision both fighters - their hair died red by blood at end of the brutal encounter - were shocked.
From the opening bell they slugged it out putting on an unbelievable show and the first two rounds were close.
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In the third, Hunt knocked down Silva with a perfect right hand and then swarmed on the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blackbelt. He spent two-and-a-half-minutes in half-guard pounding on Silva until the bell sounded.
In the fourth Silva got a takedown of his own and hammered Hunt to the point of exhaustion, giving the Aussie precious seconds to recuperate so he could see out the round.
Silva connects with Hunt. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images. Source: Getty Images
In the championship round, Hunt came out swinging and had Silva on wobbly legs until referee Steve Perceval stopped the fight to have a doctor assess a cut on Silva's head (sustained earlier from a short Hunt elbow).
With a quick break Silva was able to compose himself and then went on the attack.
In the last 30 seconds both men depended on each other to keep standing as they swung for a last-chance knockout.
Huge cheers for the two filled the Brisbane Entertainment Centre at the end of the fight.
UFC commentator Kenny Florian said the brawl would go down in heavyweight history as a "legendary fight".
Hunt cuts up Silva with a short elbow. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images. Source: Getty Images
Although the draw was better than a loss for Hunt, the rest of the card's results did not favour the home town athletes.
Of the seven Australian fighters only Perth heavyweight Soa Palelei won, with a brutal knockout of veteran Pat Barry.
Several Wallabies and Brisbane Broncos players were in attendance at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, including Quade Cooper, Ben Tapuai, Josh McGuire and Andrew McCullough.
Mauricio Rua (22-8 MMA, 6-6 UFC) def. James Te Huna (17-6 MMA, 5-3 UFC)
MIXED Martial Arts legend Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua is back.
The experienced veteran did away with his younger Aussie opponent James Te Huna with a brutal counter left-hook.
Te Huna was out could immediately and his limp body dropped to the ground 1 minute and three seconds into the first round.
"I was timing his entrances so I could connect," Rua said after the fight. "Te Huna is a tough guy."
Te Huna was considered the favourite in the fight - the co-main event on the Brisbane card.
Shogun Rua knocks out James Te Huna. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images. Source: Getty Images
Ryan Bader (16-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC) def. Anthony Perosh (14-8 MMA, 4-5 UFC)
AUSSIE Anthony Perosh, dripping in blood, showed heart to go the distance with young gun Ryan Bader in Brisbane.
Perosh spent most of the fight defending Bader's fierce punches off his back.
The American came very close to finishing the fight towards the end of the second round, but Perosh powered through despite heavy blows to the head.
Exhausted, Perosh tried to go on the attack in the last round but again ended up on the floor with Bader on top.
The judges scored the fight in favour of Bader 30-27 30-27 30-26.
Anthony Perosh cops a huge elbow to the face in his fight against Ryan Bader. Picture: Adam Head. Source: News Limited
Soa Palelei (20-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) def. Pat Barry (9-6 MMA, 5-7 UFC)
A HUGE TKO win over Pat Barry has skyrocketed Soa Palelei's standing in the UFC's heavyweight division.
At the sound of the opening bell Palelei wasted no time shooting in for a takedown on the much smaller Barry, but the American defended well off the cage.
Palelei's next takedown attempt however was successful, putting Barry on his back. There was a quick scare when Barry had a Kimura locked in, but the Aussie powered out of the hold and took mount.
He unleashed a barrage of heavy punches and referee Steve Perceval dove in to save Barry, ending the fight.
Soa Palelei celebrates his win over the wobbly Pat Barry. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images. Source: Getty Images
Clint Hester (9-3 MMA, 2-0 UFC) def Dylan Andrews (18-4 MMA, 2-1 UFC)
A DISLOCATED shoulder caused doctor's to pull Aussie Dylan Andrews from his fight with Clint Hester.
Their middleweight bout was full of big shots and reversals on the ground until Andrews popped out his shoulder.
In the second round the 34-year-old threw a big overhand right, but Hester's defence caused Andrews' arm to richocet in an awkward direction.
He barely lasted the second round and looked exhausted. During the last break of the fight the doctors assessed Andrews' injury and stopped the fight.
Hester was declared the winner by TKO.
A devastated Dylan Andrews slumps favouring his injured right shoulder. Picture: Adam Head. Source: News Limited
B ethe Correia (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) def. Julie Kedzie (16-12 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
BETHE Correia outpaced and outworked Greg Jackson fighter Julie Kedzie in the only female bout on the Brisbane card.
Correia was dangerous and relentless and it paid off with two of the three judges awarding her the split decision win 29-28.
The third judge scored Kedzie the winner 29-28.
Bethe Correia (yellow) blocks Julie Kedzie's kick. Picture: Adam Head. Source: News Limited
Takeya Mizugaki (19-7-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) def. Nam Phan (18-11 MMA, 2-5 UFC)
TAKEYA Mizugaki and Nam Phan's bout was the third fight in Brisbane that went to the Judges' scorecards.
The Ultimate Fighter competitor Phan was no match for Mizugaki losing by unanimous decision.
The judges scored the bout 29-28 29-28 30-28.
Takeya Mizugaki (white trunks) in action during his win over Nam Phan. Picture: Adam Head. Source: News Limited
Caio Magalhaes (7-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) def. Nick Ring (13-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC)
ANOTHER win has been added to Caio Magalhaes' record.
The 25-year-old Brazilian defeated Nick Ring by unanimous decision in Brisbane. The back-and-forth fight looked very close, but the judges' 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 scorecard told a different story.
Ring tired towards the end of the third round and kept looking for a takedown but Magalhaes blocked his every attempt.
Justin Scoggins (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) def. Richie Vaculik (9-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
A CONTROVERSIAL call by referee Steve Perceval has handed Justin Scoggins a TKO win over Richie Vaculik.
Aussie Vaculik was on the back foot for the majority of the fight and was dominated on the ground.
Scoggins pressured Bra Boy Vaculik against the fence with knees and when on the ground, passed his guard to mount twice.
Vaculik escaped the first time but the second, with Scoggins' vicious punches raining down, referee Perceval had seen enough and called off the fight.
Vaculik immediately protested but it is unlikely the decision will be overturned.
Richie Vaculik (bottom) during his loss to American Justin Scoggins. Picture: Adam Head. Source: News Limited
Krzysztof Jotko (14-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) def. Bruno Santos (13-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
KRZYSZTOF Jotko has won his first fight in the UFC taking a unanimous decision victory over Bruno Santos.
The pair, both fighting in the UFC's Octagon for the first time, went the distance in a scrap that was relatively even.
The judges scored the fight 29-28 29-28 30-27 giving the advantage to middleweight Jotko.
Krzysztof Jotko mounts Bruno Santos. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images. Source: Getty Images
Alex Garcia (11-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) def. Ben Wall (7-1-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
BEN Wall is Australia's first casualty at UFC Fight Night 33.
The 24-year-old was knocked out by welterweight debutant Alex Garcia.
Garcia, who has now won five straight fights, caught the Aussie with a stiff uppercut as he shot in for a takedown.
The bout was stopped by referee Cameron Quinn in the first round.
Brisbane boy Ben Wall hits the ground after taking a big hit from Alex Garcia. Pictured Adam Head. Source: News Limited