Erick Silva finishes Mike Rhodes with first round submission
Erick Silva wasted little time rebounding after a tough TKO loss to Matt Brown last May (and subsequent nose surgery) by choking out his UFC Fight Night main card opponent Mike Rhodes in the first round. Silva struck first with a spinning back kick, but Rhodes countered with a solid overhand right punch.
Silva then changed levels and hit a single leg takedown on the American. Once on the ground, Silva quickly passed Rhodes' guard and went to side mount.
The Brazilian then quickly moved to an arm-triangle choke, got perpendicular to him and sunk the choke in. Rhodes tried to defend by grabbing his own leg, though he ultimately went out, prompting the referee to stop the fight at 1:15 of the first round.
"I knew Mike Rhodes is a very good athlete and kickboxer but I'm a Jiu Jitsu fighter. Sometimes I forget my Jiu Jitsu background," Silva said.
The win is Silva's fifth UFC win, and fifth by way of first round stoppage.
