OAKLAND, Calif. — “UFC 117: Silva vs. Sonnen” takes place tonight, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2010, at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. It’s the UFC’s first visit to Oaktown and the card is absolutely stacked.

UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, considered the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world by most experts, defends his 185-pound crown against Team Quest wrestler Chael Sonnen in the main event. In the co-main event, welterweights Jon Fitch and Thiago Alves battle for contention.

Also, the legend, Matt Hughes takes on “Big Dog” Ricardo Almeida, heavyweight killer Junior Dos Santos tests his mettle against The Ultimate Fighter 10 winner Roy “Big Country” Nelson and Clay Guida battles Rafael dos Anjos to round out the main card.

The action starts live on Pay-Per-View at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT. As always, ProMMAnow.com will provide live results and play-by-play commentary. Immediately following tonight’s Pay-Per-View, the live video webcast of the UFC 117 post-fight press conference will broadcast in our UFC ROOM.

If you are looking for somewhere to watch UFC 117 for free in your area, check out UFCbar.com to find local sports bars in your area which will be showing the event. If you want to watch UFC 117 at hone online, check out www.ufc.com/event/UFC117/watch to order the Pay-Per-View on your computer for $44.95.

Also, if you still have not done so, be sure to enter our UFC 117 pick em contest. We are giving away a free copy of Forrest Griffin’s new book entitled, BE READY WHEN THE SH*T GOES DOWN. All you have to do is be the first person to correctly guess how the UFC 117 main event will end and be closest to guessing the correct round and time it will finish.

UFC 117 quick results:

MAIN CARD (Pay-Per-View)

• Anderson Silva def. Chael Sonnen by submission (triangle choke) Rd 5 (3:10)
• Jon Fitch def. Thiago Alves by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Clay Guida def. Rafael dos Anjos by submission (jaw injury) Rd 3 (1:51)
• Matt Hughes def. Ricardo Almeida by technical submission (front headlock) Rd 1 (3:15)
• Junior Dos Santos def. Roy Nelson by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)

PRELIMINARY CARD (Not Televised)

• Rick Story def. Dustin Hazelett by TKO (punches) Rd 2 (1:15)
• Phil Davis def. Rodney Wallace by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
• Johny Hendricks def. Charlie Brenneman by TKO (punches) Rd 2 (0:40)
• Tim Boetsch def. Todd Brown by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Stefan Struve def. Christian Morecraft by TKO (punches) Rd 2 (0:22)
• Dennis Hallman def. Ben Saunders by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28

UFC 117 play-by-play:

Junior Dos Santos vs. Roy Nelson

Round 1 – The winner gets a title shot. If this fight gets out of round one I’ll be VERY surprised. Can Roy continue his KO rise up the UFC ranks or will he try to take Junior down? Will Junior KO “Big Country”? The introduce Roy as a “kung fu” fighter. A little known fact about Roy is that he is trained in the Shaolin “Iron Shirt” technique. True, and probably one reason for the belly. Roy swings first, lands a left jab. Dos Santos misses with an uppercut. Big right hand by Nelson, he then clinches, pushes Junior against the fence. Roy has him tied up, trying to put him down. Ref calls for improvement. Big knee from Junior out of the clinch. Nice straight left from Dos Santos then some big punches. Junior lands a huge shot, another upper cut. Roy is getting blasted but is still standing. Junior lands another big uppercut. Roy’s chin holds firm. Junior threw a barrage, lands an uppercut and Roy goes down. He gets up, eats a huge knee, and a flurry of punches. Roy covers up and survives. How is he still standing? It’s that Iron Shirt I told you about. Right hand and a left straight from Dos Santos. Big knee from Junior. roy lands a right, another right. Body shot by Junior. Left straight from Roy. Right hand from Junior and another. The round ends. 10-8 for Junior in my book. I can’t believe what we just saw.

Round 2 – Big knee from Dos Santos. Big right hand from Roy, goes for a shot but gets stuffed. Junior lands some punches, big ones. Roy lands a punch. Roy is covering up well. Roy swings big and misses. Nice left from Roy. Three big body shots from Junior. Right hand from Roy. Roy shoots, drives him against the cage with a double leg. Can’t get it. Great defense from Junior. Junior has a mouse under his right eye and it’s cut. Right hand by Roy. Junior shoots, can’t get it. Uppercut from Junior. Big body shot from Junior. Straight left on the chin from Roy. Left straight jab from Junior then a big hook lands.Both guys have slowed down. Nice stiff jab, then uppercut from Junior. Roy shoots, gets stuffed. Stiff left from Junior. 10-9 for Dos Santos.

Round 3 – I can’t believe the shots Roy took in round one. Nice body kick from Junior, then a big overhand right from Roy. Roy lands another one. Roy fires back. Nice front kick from Junior to Roy’s chin. Huge uppercut from Junior, then a body shot. Junior shoots and gets the takedown. Roy gets up and takes a body shot on the way up. Uppercut from Junior. Roy has no head movement. They both connect. Roy looks exhausted mouth wide open. Knee to the body from Junior. Leg kick from Roy but he eats a punch. Nice left jab from Roy, again. Junior with a nice combo to the body and head. Huge knee from Junior. Huge right from Junior. Nice right from Roy. Two big body shots from Junior. Knee to the body from Dos Santos. Nice right and left from Junior. This was one of the craziest fights I’ve ever seen. Roy Nelson deserves SO MUCH RESPECT. Now, I’m not kidding about the Iron Shirt from Roy. I would love to talk to him about it because it’s the only explanation I know of how someone could withstand those shots. Anyway… 10-9 for Junior… but Cain or Brock will kill him I think.

OFFICIAL RESULT:  Junior Dos Santos def. Roy Nelson by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)

Matt Hughes vs. Ricardo Almeida

Round 1 – Wrestler vs. BJJ guy. Ricardo is looking to strike, stalking. Ricardo looks light on his feet. Head kick by Hughes, leg kick by Ricardo. Leg kick from Hughes, but eats a right. Right hand from Almeida. Leg kick inside from Almeida. Nice left hook from Hughes drops Almeida. Hughes locks on a front headlock and puts Almeida to sleep. It was started from a left hook, Almeida goes down, starts to get up and Hughes locks on the front headlock and Hughes puts him out cold, to sleep. And yes, I was the ONLY one to pick Hughes from the ProMMAnow.com staff and finally I called a good one! I will reiterate…. Hughes is still the best welterweight in MMA history.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Matt Hughes def. Ricardo Almeida by technical submission (front headlock) Rd 1 (3:15)

Clay Guida vs. Rafael dos Anjos

Round 1 – Guida lands a nice right counter. Guida on his bicycle, lands a nice inside leg kick then a head kick. Dos Anjos shrugs his shoulders at the head kick. Leg kick from dos Anjos. Guida lands a beautiful combo and dos Anjos feels it. Nice inside leg kick for dos Anjos, again. Dos Anjos shoots, Guida stuffs it. Guida drops levels for a double. Guida still working for the takedown. Dos Anjos defending well with a front head lock. Guida pushing him into the fence. They separate and square up. Dos Anjos with a flying knee, misses. Nice left from dos Anjos rocks Guida’s head. Dos Anjos shoots, gets stuffed. Nice head kick from dos Anjos. Leg kick from dos Anjos, then a BIG uppercut, then shoots, gets a takedown on Guida. That has to be a mental defeat for Guida, to give up the takedown. Guida gets up before the bell sounds. I give the round to dos Anjos 10-9.

Round 2 -Guida gets hit with a counter, then catches a leg kick. Guida on his bicycle, all over the place. Left hook from Guida. Body kick from dos Anjos. Dos Anjos shoots, gets stuffed. They clinch, separate, right hand from dos Anjos connects. Guida is moving around a lot but not landing anything, it dissipates his power. Leg kick from dos Anjos scores. Nice shot from Guida gets the takedown. Guida inside his full guard. Guida moves to half, then back to full guard. 1:00 left in the round. Guida moves to half guard. Guida has a little blood coming out. :30 seconds left, ref calls for work. If this was John Howard, ref Herb Dean would have stood it up. Guida gets that round 10-9.

Round 3 – As always, Guida lets out a huge burp between rounds. Nice left counter from dos Anjos. Guida lands a nice combo. Body kick from dos Anjos, Guida shoots, gets a single leg, lifts dos Anjos up high for the slam. Guida in half guard, lands a nice knee to the body. Guida softens him up with body body head. Guida presses down on dos Anjos’ jaw with his shoulder while on top and dos Anjos taps out. Something is wrong with dos Anjos’ jaw, most likely broke so that pain caused him to tap out..A replay shows a big right hand from Clay in the first round that probably broke dos Anjos’ jaw.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Clay Guida def. Rafael dos Anjos by submission (jaw injury) Rd 3 (1:51)

NOTES: Clay thanked a ton of people and gave a shout out to Ryan Sheckler who just won X Games street skate competition.

Jon Fitch vs. Thiago Alves

NOTES: Poor Thiago Alves. He got beat in their first fight. He had the brain surgery. And now he’s already lost 20% of his purse cause he couldn’t make weight. He missed weight by a half pound. How crazy is that?

Round 1 – Leg kick from Alves, then a nice right hand counter to Fitch’s leg kick. Fitch goes for the takedown and slams him. Fitch has Alves’ back, gets one hook in. Alves stands and Fitch puts knees in his thighs. Alves turns around, Fitch still putting knees on his thighs and slams Alves back to the ground. Fitch is in half guard. Alves gets to his feet, puts Fitch on his back. Alves on top in half guard. Thiago lets Fitch stand up. Fitch grabs a Thai clinch and lands a couple of knees. Nice right hand from Alves. Body shot from Fitch. Leg kick from Alves. Right hand, then a shot by Fitch. Alves stops it. They clinch, Alves gets taken down with five seconds to go. Fitch wins the round 10-9.

Round 2 – Fitch said, “He’s weak in the clinch” between rounds. Inside leg kick from Fitch scores. Fitch times it as Alves throws an uppercut and puts Alves on his back. Alves has Fitch wrapped up in full guard. Fitch postures up, lands some punches. Alves tries to get to his feet, with his back to the cage. Fitch grabs his legs and puts him down. Alves gets to one leg, then it’s right back down. Fitch on top in half guard. Alves gets full guard briefly. Now Alves gets to his feet, Fitch has a body lock from the back, puts Alves down. Fitch stands over him, postures up and as Alves tries to get up, Fitch grabs a single leg. Fitch puts him back down and has Alves’s back. Alves spins and gains control. He lets Fitch up. Leg kick punch from Alves. Superman punch then uppercut from Alves. They clinch as the bell sounds. 10-9 round for Fitch.

Round 3 – Alves needs a KO or submission. Leg kick from Fitch scores. Alves returns it. Superman punch from Alves. Alves lands a nice left jab. Knee to the body from Fitch. Leg kick from Alves. Nice head kick from Alves. Fitch shoots, gets a single and Alves gets free. Alves looking good now, lands a leg kick. Uppercut thrown by Alves, Fitch shoots, grabs a body lock from behind and drags Alves down. Fitch has his back with one hook in. Fitch has a body triangle on Alves and softens him up. Fitch looking for a rear-naked choke, continues to punish from the back. :90 seconds left in the fight. Alves rolls and ends up on top of Fitch. Fitch still has a body triangle even though Alves is on top. Fitch lets it go and hangs on with 15 seconds to go. Fitch stands, the bell sounds. Fitch gets the round 10-9 and the fight 30-27 in my opinion.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Jon Fitch def. Thiago Alves by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

NOTES: At one point Rogan said Fitch is a guy who had no natural talent but just works extremely hard.

Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen

NOTES: Steven Seagal is in Anderson Silva’s corner. YES!! That deserves so many cool points it’s not even funny.  Silva is wearing a Silver Star gi with a black belt. He hugs Steven Seagal and all his partners. Chael is motioning to Anderson to get in the cage and let’s do this. Anderson circles the Octagon with his back to Sonnen. I can’t believe we get to see this!! Hold on to your hats fight fans, the world will never be the same after this fight. Two microcosms are about to collide, a literal black hole may open up in the middle of the Octagon. Matt Lindland is in Chael’s corner. The boos are loud for Chael. Do you think Anderson’s head looks like a peanut? Anderson bows to the four corners. Stare down is normal. They touch gloves.

Round 1 – Chael comes forward and Anderson punches. Chael throws a kick, Anderson catches it and lets it go. Chael shoots, gets stuffed. Anderson catches a kick and Chael rolls out. Chael lands a punch and hurts Anderson. He hit him again and hurt him. Leg kick from Sonnen. Chael goes for a takedown. He gets up. Chael hit Anderson on the chin and again. Anderson let him hit him. Chael putsAnderson on his back. Chael mounts him in half guard. Chael starts the assault. Anderson got hit with about five big punches. It was almost like he wanted to see if he could KO him, like he was letting him hit him. Chael is landing some big shots as he takes Anderson’s back. Anderson turtles up. Anderson rolls. Big elbow from Sonnen. He’s pounding and pounding Silva. Huge right hand on Silva’s chin, may have broke his jaw. Chael pins one of his arms, lands a shot. Chael postures up and lands some big punches, another one. Chael gets side control, now full guard. 30 seconds left in the round. Chael postures up again and lands more big punches. 10-8 round for Sonnen.

Round 2 – Silva with a nice leg kick, tries it again and Sonnen puts him on his back. Sonnen inside his guard, moves to half guard. Anderson holding on tight. Sonnen smacking his ears with both hands. Sonnen pounds the bacck of Anderson’s head into the ground. Silva finally lets go, Chael postures up and lands a huge left. Silva still holding on. Sonnen pounding with every opening. Silva holding on tight in full guard. Nice elbow from Chael. Big left hand from Sonnen. Anderson is holding one of Sonnen’s wrists as he got hit with the other hand. It’s just an all out assault from Sonnen. Silva eats a huge right as he hangs on with two hands to one wrist. One minute left in the round. This is a five rounder. Nice elbows from Sonnen. Silva tries to put his back to the cage to walk up. Anderson locks on a kimura but Sonnen gets out. 10-8 for Sonnen.

Round 3 – No Goldy, Lindland is not in Silva’s corner.  Big right hand from Silva. Silva dancing and moving well. Long ways to go. Spinning back kick lands for Silva. Sonnen gets the takedown. Silva takes a wrist looking for kimura as he turtles up. Sonnen lands knes to his thighs and punches him over and over as Silva is turtled. Silva rolls, ends up in full guard. Sonnen has slowed a bit but he’s still the aggressor, still on top, and still attacking. Sonnen lays on elbow after elbow. Silva has a body triangle locked on, and is holding on. Sonnen keeps on the attack, dirty ground and pound. It’s an ugly gritty grinding beating is what Chael is doing to him. If nothing else, a huge hole has been exposed in Silva’s game… wrestling. We all knew it, but never saw anything like this. 30 seconds to go. Silva lands a couple little elbows from the bottom but is getting pounded. Rogan said I wonder what kind of advice Seagal is going to give him. Sonnen gets the round 10-9.

Round 4 – Body kick by Anderson. He drops Chael with a shot. Both guys are swinging. Chael tries to shoot but Anderson ends up on top. Chael reverses and puts Anderson on his back. Silva is hanging on but Chael keeps doing what he’s been doing for four rounds now, pounding and grinding with elbows, rabbit punches, and anything he can. Silva using butterfly guard but Chael gets back to full guard and lands some more punches. Silva throwing elbows from his back. Sonnen lands about eight right hands in a row. Sonnen is cut on his forehead from Silva’s elbows. 22 seconds left. Chael pretty bloody but he gets the round 10-9.

Round 5 – Chael’s cut is nasty right on his left eyebrow. Anderson is clapping looks ready. Sonnen shoots, misses. Sonnen drops Silva with a punch and is right back on top of him. Sonnen gets side control, locks on a choke but Silva breaks free and back to full guard. Sonnen lands three or four big body shots. It is now being said Silva slipped and was not dropped. Nevertheless, Sonnen is still being relentless with his attack. More big punches land from Sonnen, still inside the guard, still working like a blue collar beat down. Punch from his back by Anderson. Anderson locks on a triangle, it’s deep. Sonnen tapped out apparently. There is controversy. It was one tap from Sonnen.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Anderson Silva def. Chael Sonnen by submission (triangle choke) Rd 5 (3:10)

NOTES: Silva bowed to Sonnen’s feet after the fight and hugged him. Silva said he hurt his ribs about a week ago, the doctor asked him not to fight but he came in anyway for the fans. He ends the interview by saying, “Nogueira brothers jiu jitsu”. Sonnen said he is only here to be number one and if he’s not the best it’s time to move on. He said he came up short.

I was a little in doubt if it was a real tap out, but apparently it was because Sonnen did not mention it. I’m still not sure what the controversy was about at the very end.