Silva snaps 4-year skid with controversial decision over Brunson

Anderson Silva didn't quite turn back the clock, but he got a much-needed win with a little help from the judges on Saturday.

"The Spider" snapped a four-year winless drought with a controversial unanimous decision over Derek Brunson in the middleweight co-main event of UFC 208 in Brooklyn. Silva appeared to have gotten the worst of his early striking exchanges with Brunson and was taken down in the final round, but that didn't deter one judge from giving him the nod by a 30-27 score.

Related: Fighters react to Silva's unanimous decision win over Brunson

The unexpected verdict marked the 41-year-old's 17th UFC victory at 185 pounds, good for second all time.

As is customary of his fights, Silva spent the opening moments sizing Brunson up, but the gentleman's agreement proved a temporary one, as the pair turned up the pace with some wild exchanges in the latter half of Round 1.

The 33-year-old Brunson appeared wary of Silva's striking pedigree, but made the Brazilian pay for a wheel kick with a steady stream of leather from the clinch to close out the highly contested frame.

Silva treated the Barclays Center to flashbacks of his formerly invincible self in Round 2, stuffing Brunson's takedown attempts and keeping him at bay with a varied and typically unpredictable striking attack, including snappy kicks, a sneaky jab, and a spinning back fist for good measure.

Brunson appeared to swing the proceedings back in his favor in the final stanza, once again getting the better of Silva in the clinch before landing a late takedown and cruising to the final horn from top control. While many in the MMA media world gave the wrestler the nod by a 29-28 tally, two of three judges had the exact same score going the other way.

After mounting a five-fight win streak including four consecutive first-round knockouts, Brunson finds himself on the first losing skid of his UFC career thanks to the head-scratcher of a decision. His second straight loss drops his promotional record to 7-3.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)