Main event, for the world middleweight championship. The well-rounded Rich Franklin, from Cincinnati, is 20-1. Anderson Silva, a fearsome Muay Thai striker from Brazil, is 16-4. He introduced himself to America over the summer with a thorough dismantling of Chris Leben on national TV.

The 32-year old Franklin, who came out to the octagon to AC/DC's For Those About to Rock, We Salute You, is looking to make his third title defense since defeating Evan Tanner in the summer of 2005.

Announcer Bruce Buffer is rushing through the ring introductions. It is 9:27 pm Pacific as I type this and if this goes five rounds it will push right up against the end of UFC's three-hour PPV window.

Big John McCarthy is your referee.

Round 1: They circle around and stalk each other for the bulk of the first minute. Both fighters look cautious. Silva starts bobbing and weaving. They clinch and Silva hits a couple knees. Silva backs Franklin into the cage and they maneuver back out to the center. Silva has been grasping both hands around Franklin's head and hitting knees, one of which clearly did damage, sending Franklin backwards. Silva hits with a knee, Silva connects with two huge kicks to the head with his left foot, Silva connects on an elbow and another knee, which floors Franklin, and that's it. McCarthy calls it off. Franklin is out and Anderson Silva is the new UFC world middleweight champion in 2:59. Franklin appears to have a broken nose. Silva just ran right over someone who was considered to have the potential to become one of the most dominant champions in the sport.