UFC On ESPN+ 39 Full Fight Video: Watch Anderson Silva Knock Out Forrest Griffin

Anderson Silva, who held the UFC middleweight champion in August 2009, moved up to light heavyweight to test himself against former UFC 205 pound champion Forrest Griffin. Griffin had lost that belt to Rashad Evans eight months before he faced Silva.

Silva was the -350 favorite over Griffin, who was the +220 underdog.

Fans — and UFC president Dana White — widely criticized Silva for the two performances he put on before he faced Griffin. He seemed disinterested on his way to wins over Patrick Cote and Thales Leites.

Griffin looked to gauge distance and Silva did the same in the early going of the 205-pound scrap. That continued for the first two minutes of the matchup. Then Silva attacked and dropped Griffin. Once Griffin got back to his feet, Silva looked a lot more relaxed. Silva dropped his hands and used his head movement to avoid Griffin’s strikes before dropping him a second time.

Silva allowed Griffin to get back to his feet and then, with Griffin moving forward, Silva threw out a lazy right jab while he was also backing up and dropped Griffin for the third time. That ended the fight at the 3:23 mark of the first stanza.

Silva faces Uriah Hall in the main event of tonight’s UFC on ESPN+ 39 fight card, which takes place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Before that fight, watch Silva score an amazing knockout over Griffin.