UFC 162: 5 Memorable Moments from Silva vs Weidman Fight Card

UFC 162 saw the changing of the guard in the UFC's middleweight division.

Chris Weidman not only took the UFC middleweight championship from Anderson Silva, but he also knocked out the pound-for-pound great in the second round.

That was not the only memorable moment of UFC 162. Ten other fights helped line the card and build the anticipation for the main event. The Las Vegas crowd was treated to some good fights and good finishes. It was an excellent card for the organization.

Here are the five most memorable moments from UFC 162.

5. Munoz Punishes Boetsch

Mark Munoz returned to the Octagon for the first time since being knocked out by Chris Weidman. And he looked great.

Munoz entered in great shape and was able to control Tim Boetsch for the majority of their fight.

The most memorable moment of the fight was in the third round. Munoz had asserted himself, and as Boetsch looked for a desperate submission to catch Munoz with, he was battered—brutally.

Munoz generates a lot of power in short distances. The thud sounds emanating from Boetsch's body were sickening. Those punches to the ribs and thigh could not have felt good in any way, shape or form. The punishing ground-and-pound can still be heard.

4. Barboza's Devastating Leg Kicks

It is no secret that Edson Barboza possesses some of the most lethal leg kicks in the lightweight division, but Rafaello Oliveira had absolutely no answer for them on Saturday night.

Oliveira failed to check them, switch stances, or show any semblance of a game plan to avoid the leg kicks. He stood in front of Barboza, flat-footed, and ate one after another.

It cost him.

It became apparent that Barboza's leg kicks were affecting Oliveira. He began to limp, and shortly afterward, he had a hard time standing. Even if he wanted to move out of the way, he was now unable to. Barboza stopped the bout with leg kicks. It's the second time in his career.

It is rare to see a fight stopped by leg kicks, but it is beautiful when it is done.

3. Gabriel Gonzaga's Quick Finish

Seventeen seconds is all it took.

Gabriel "Napao" Gonzaga has been focusing on his ground game in recent fights, and that seemed to be the conventional thought as to what he would try to do against Dave Herman at UFC 162.

He wouldn't need it.

A low leg kick was countered with a well-placed fist to the face. Herman dropped, Gonzaga pounced and the fight was stopped. Kim Winslow placed her hands on Gonzaga, and he stopped his onslaught on the mat.

The replay of the punch that started the finish was shown over and over and even made it on to the end of the UFC 162 pay-per-view telecast. It's easily one of the more memorable moments of the card.

2. Swanson's Self-Stoppage

One could argue that Herb Dean gave Dennis Siver every chance in the book, or one could argue that he allowed him to take a lot of unnecessary punishment.

No matter which way you lean, you cannot deny that it was Cub Swanson who called the bout off.

Instead of landing more vicious ground-and-pound on a defeated Siver, Swanson looked up at Dean and gave, to me, a virtual, "If you aren't stopping this, I am," gesture. Swanson ended the bout by teeing off on Siver and putting a stop to the brutality.

Dean may have been right to give Siver more of a chance to recover following being floored, but he was still late on the stoppage. It was good on the part of Swanson to not inflict more unnecessary damage.

1. Showboating Costs Silva

This is not only the most memorable moment of UFC 162, but it will be the most memorable moment of 2013.

Silva not only lost, but he was also knocked out. Chris Weidman ended the long and glorious reign of Anderson Silva.

Silva's taunting has endeared him to some fans and angered many others over the years. This is nothing new. However, he had never been caught while doing so. He rolled with incoming punches or avoided them altogether.

Weidman was the one to catch him.

It was Silva's fault. You cannot play around with elite talent. That will be what everyone remembers. Weidman leveling a showboater. It will be a talking point for quite some time, and we may never get to see Silva try to regain the belt. Regardless, Weidman did it. That's it.