Undefeated and undisputed.

This past weekend in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva shared a combat sports arena for a third time in a five-round boxing exhibition bout between the two former rivals that was ultimately declared a draw (even if many commenters online saw the fight as a definitive ‘win’ for Silva).

But for Sonnen, who has been finished in mixed martial arts competition by Silva on two occasions (2010, 2012) — the first of which was a heartbreaking late submission defeat after he dominated the first 4.5 rounds — this performance, a tie, is a sign of improvement.

“I thought I won the first three rounds,” Sonnen told the media in Brazil post-fight, as noted by MMA Fighting. “You have to understand, he let me win the first one. He always lets me win the first round. That’s one of his strategies, he feels you out. He lets everybody win the first round, and I did the same thing in Rounds 2 and 3 that I did in the first round.

While these casuals watch “tank”, the most intelligent of us are watching Chael Sonnen vs Anderson Silva.

THIS is the most talent in a boxing match tonight. pic.twitter.com/dJx2vdwMbp

— Homelander MMA (@HomelanderMMA) June 16, 2024

“But I slipped somewhere in the fourth round, and then they brought the doctor in at some point because I had a bloody nose or something. It’s like, come on, you’re making this look way worse than it is. It was three rounds to two, I thought I won that fight.”

Sonnen added: “You have to understand, the last two fights, whether I like it or not, were stoppage losses, so a draw is a big step in the right direction. On the other hand, of the six completed rounds I’ve had with Anderson Silva, I won all six. He has never won a round against me, that’s a reality.

“Tonight, he won rounds, so big deal for me to get a draw, big deal for him to win a round.”