Cote - Showed his excellent chin, disciplined striking and ever-present heart. He showed he was as deserving of a title shot as anyone at 185 who has not yet faced the reaper currently holding the belt. With his heavy hands, granite noggin, improving ground game and takedown defense (as exhibited in his last fight with Ricardo Almeida) he’s a tough nut to crack for anyone at middleweight. You also get the feeling the best may be yet to come with the Canadian slugger. Next should be one of the top contenders like Nate Marquardt or Thales Leites.

Silva - Timing seemed a little off as he inevitably struggled to live up to the billing of “perfect fighter”. He may well have found his range and KO’d Cote in the remaining 12 or so minutes. Maybe he was a tad complacent or struggled for motivation for this fight, who knows. Cries of “Fedor is pound for pound king” will ring out purely because Silva didn’t destroy Cote in the first round. In truth neither has shown flaws of late to suggest one or the other is remotely beatable. Both attempt to solidify their legacies, as Fedor faces Arlovski next, and, without a legitimate contender at middleweight, Silva heads to light heavyweight, perhaps for a superfight with Chuck Liddell. He has stated his intention is to fight only 5 more times before retiring, and with the talent abounding at the 205 limit the possibilities are endless and exciting. Liddell, Keith Jardine and the winner of Griffin/Evans would all make for blockbuster fights for the Spider to start his final run. Although he has stated he wants to leave the 205 pound title alone, for fear of encroaching on his friend Lyoto Machida’s territory, UFC brass would love to see him try his luck.

Best of the Rest

Thales Leites and Spencer Fisher shone with slick submission victories and now both seem ready to fight top guys for a shot at the title.