It happened. It actually happened.

For months an endless flood of professional fighters predicted the demise of Anderson Silva at the hands of Chris Weidman. At UFC 162, Weidman finally stared fate straight in the eye and validated all of those claims.

Regardless of how it transpired, the reality is that Weidman is the new UFC middleweight champion. Silva's eight-year, 15-fight reign of dominance came to an unceremonious end on Saturday night, as the entire MMA community sat in stunned disbelief at what it just witnessed.

Words can't describe how I'm feeling right now!!! Beyond happy proud & excited for the new champ @ChrisWeidmanUFC !!!! — Matt Serra (@MattSerraUFC) July 7, 2013

this sucks. — Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) July 7, 2013

@ChrisWeidmanUFC Congratulations, you are the new champion. Next challenger is me! Lets do it — Vitor Belfort (@vitorbelfort) July 7, 2013

@danawhite @lorenzofertitta @ChrisWeidmanUFC I AM THE NEXT CHALLENGER FOR THE NEW CHAMP LETS SET THE DATE!!!!! COME ON SOMEBODY — Vitor Belfort (@vitorbelfort) July 7, 2013

Hey @ChrisWeidmanUFC so your the champ. Defend it, fight me! — michael (@bisping) July 7, 2013

Don't boo Anderson Silva. The man has delivered an incredible legacy and set the bar higher than anyone — Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) July 7, 2013

U MUST respect every opponent!! There is no room in this sport for showboatin. Lesson learned — chad mendes (@chadmendes) July 7, 2013

The showboating finally caught up to him. — Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) July 7, 2013

@ChrisWeidmanUFC the Champ congrats buddy! AMAZING — Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) July 7, 2013

Never been at such a loss for words after a fight. Too many thoughts to even express. Just wow I guess. #UFC162 — Mike Quick Swick (@officialswick) July 7, 2013

WOW! Chris Weidman ladies and gentlemen — Pat Curran (@PatCurranMMA) July 7, 2013

Big olé congrats for Weidman, way to show how to put cockiness to sleep. Always supporting the wrestlers! USA baby!! — Dan Henderson (@danhendo) July 7, 2013

But seriously, HUGE props to @SpiderAnderson for being AMAZING n UNDEFEATED for 7 years in the @ufc, ROLE MODEL n HUGE inspiration — Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) July 7, 2013

Anderson got caught. Happens to everyone. Respect the hell out of him. #GOAT — Erik Jon Koch (@NEWBREED04) July 7, 2013

Silva still has a great legacy in MMA. That style worked for him so many times in the past. I don’t think Anderson will fight again — Tom Kong Watson (@TomKongWatson) July 7, 2013

The closed sign has been turned around . The 185 lb division in the UFC is now open #ufc162 — Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) July 7, 2013

Respect to Anderson Silva for holding the belt for so long and being a great ambassador for the sport of MMA #UFC162 — Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) July 7, 2013

Man Anderson gave that to him he could've win at anytime IMO! Well congrats to the new champ!! #cantplay — Douglas Lima (@PhenomLima) July 7, 2013

Silva deserves to loss so cocky and disrespectful — Hector Lombard (@HectorLombard) July 7, 2013

Wow I can't believe the dumb shit people are saying right now. Bandwagon fans — Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) July 7, 2013

Silva played around too much and got caught and paid for it. He is still the best pound for pound fighter and the greatest of all time! — Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) July 7, 2013

Anderson has been working on the wacky waving arm inflatable tube man defense. — Amir Sadollah (@amirMMA) July 7, 2013

It looked like Chris was falling for it and Anderson was looking for a hole to catch him. Don't think he was being disrespectful — Chris Clements (@menaceclements) July 7, 2013

I don't believe in a million yrs that Anderson threw the fight but I do believe he's happy to take the immense pressure off of his shoulders — Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) July 7, 2013

The "hands down" ploy is what Silva has used many times to frustrate & bait his opponents into a KO. It failed this time. #ufc162 — Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) July 7, 2013

Even Anderson Silva can't ALWAYS get away with keeping his hands down. Picked Weidman to win but Silva still the best to ever fight in @ufc — Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) July 7, 2013

so that's what happens when you show off? Guess I need to stop doing that ... Thanks for showing me the light #stillthegoat — Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) July 7, 2013

Wow can't believe what I iust saw tonight. — Melvin Guillard (@Young__Assassin) July 7, 2013

Thats what he gets for fuckin around tho — John Moraga (@chicanojohn) July 7, 2013

Now there's one reason to respect other fighters — mark richard hunt (@markhunt1974) July 7, 2013

Automatically gets the rematch. But I am glad the belt is in the USA! #ufc162 — Evan Dunham (@evandunham155) July 7, 2013

Its like the fourth of July all over again! @ALIAQUINTA — Samuel Sicilia (@SamSiciliaMMA) July 7, 2013

Anderson tried to pull a @PrinceNaseemH but failed this time!! Wow! — MIKE RICHMAN (@MikeUSMCRichman) July 7, 2013

I havent had a feeling like this since GSP vs. Serra's first fight...wonder if there is a rematch in store for Weidman vs Silva #UFC162 — Jon Tuck (@JonCruzTuck) July 7, 2013

What’s with Ray Longo students pulling off these otherworldly knockouts on champions? #UFC162 — Jason Highwalker (@KCBanditMMA) July 7, 2013

Even in losing in such a manner #AndersonSilva shows a great attitude. Gave the new champ a lot props and that's commendable. #ufc162 #MMA — Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) July 7, 2013

Still the greatest, but he's human like everyone else. Sad to see it happening that way though. — Vinny Magalhaes (@VinnyMMA) July 7, 2013

Watching Anderson lose was like finding out Santa Claus doesn't exist. Congrats to weidman — Sara McMann (@Sara_McMann) July 7, 2013

WoW!!!! — Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) July 7, 2013

Anderson was an amazing champion. I'm happy to see Chris bring the belt back to America! — Aaron Riley (@aaronrileymma) July 7, 2013

Unreal fight!! Anderson nothing but a class act even in defeat. pic.twitter.com/I5YBYwJjSt — Sean Sherk UFC (@SeanSherkUFC) July 7, 2013

I get the idea of mentally beating someone but to completely disrespect another man in battle the way silva did is shameful — Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) July 7, 2013

Always respect your opponent PERIOD !!! — Brad Pickett (@One_Punch) July 7, 2013

Dana must be fighting hard to hide his true emotions right now. — MIKE RICHMAN (@MikeUSMCRichman) July 7, 2013

Silva is still the GOAT. His Legacy is amazing and huge huge huge congrats to @ChrisWeidmanUFC — Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) July 7, 2013

Seeing Anderson get knocked out is like finding out Santa isn't real! — Louis Gaudinot (@LouGaudinotUFC) July 7, 2013

He may of lost and Say what you want but Anderson Silva is still the best ever!! #UFC162 — John Maguire (@MaguireTheOne) July 7, 2013

Kind of a little heart broken. Not going to lie — Kyle Noke (@KyleNoke) July 7, 2013

EDGAR GETS BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN

Another awesome Frankie Edger fight!!! — Matt Serra (@MattSerraUFC) July 7, 2013

How do you not love @FrankieEdgar?!?! Lil fucking savage! Go get it Champ! — Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) July 7, 2013

U got to love the pace of the 145 div. Specially when Frankie fights. #ufc162 — Tarec Saffiedine (@tarecfighter) July 7, 2013

Edgars footwork is so dam clean — David Rickels (@TheCaveman316) July 7, 2013

Frankie "The Kick Catcher" Edgar — Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) July 7, 2013

Amazing fight between Edgar and Olivera. No losers there IMO. — Amir Sadollah (@amirMMA) July 7, 2013

If you dont like @FrankieEdgar you may seriously be a bad person, kid is incredible and so down to earth !!!! Great fight both men!!! — Brian Stann (@BrianStann) July 7, 2013

Fight of the night. Edgar vs oliveira — Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) July 7, 2013

Dang @FrankieEdgar is a beast!!! — Phil Davis (@PhilMrWonderful) July 7, 2013

Fight of the night 100% what a fight congrats to the Former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar good job :) @ufc @danawhite #respect — Manny Gamburyan (@MannyGamburyan) July 7, 2013

Love me a Frankie Edgar fight! — Joseph Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) July 7, 2013

That was MY fight of the night so far! #edgar #oliveira #ufc162 Edgar is an animal. Right hand had POP! Pace was sick & fight was technical! — Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) July 7, 2013

KENNEDY VICTORIOUS IN DEBUT

Whoa like David and Goliath — Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) July 7, 2013

I picked a great time to take a nap for 20 minutes. — Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) July 7, 2013

Yah Tim Kennedy!! Lets go my man! Looked very composed in there against one of the best bjj practitioners, when he had your back! — Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) July 7, 2013

Very impressed with tim Kennedy! #murica — Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) July 7, 2013

Sorry but Jackson is a odd corner man.I might bite his face when he came in cage. IMO love my marcus & @JoeDelguyd sure @smiocic agrees — Jessica (@jessicaevileye) July 7, 2013

No disrespect to Roger Gracie but Damien Maia has the best mma grappling in the UFC 👏 who's with me on this one? — Manny Gamburyan (@MannyGamburyan) July 7, 2013

It was a humbling night @rogergracie is an amazing fighter. I promise to come back WAY better. #ufc162 — Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) July 7, 2013

MUNOZ DOMINATES BOETSCH

Yeah buddy!! Great job @mark_munoz you trained so hard & broke his will!! — Tom Kong Watson (@TomKongWatson) July 7, 2013

Nice to see Munoz in the winners circle again... #ufc162 — Mark Bocek (@MarkBocek) July 7, 2013

Great fight! Munoz great showing and boetsch is a tough sob! @ufc #ufc162 — TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) July 7, 2013

Congrats to Mark Munoz one of the coolest guys in the sport. #UFC162 — Jason Highwalker (@KCBanditMMA) July 7, 2013

Munoz tenderizing Boetsch like he’s bout to throw him on the grill. #UFC162 — Jason Highwalker (@KCBanditMMA) July 7, 2013

Munoz is back on track. One of the nicest & most genuine guys you will meet. Great win over a tough Boetsch. #ufc162 #keepolympicwrestling — Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) July 7, 2013

Well Boetsch is going to be really sore 2moro lol Munoz looked awesome in that fight! #UFC162 — John Maguire (@MaguireTheOne) July 7, 2013

SWANSON STAKES HIS CLAIM

Great fucking fight!!!! Siver vs Cub — Dana White (@danawhite) July 7, 2013

Swanson made Siver even slower by using feints. Swanson's combinations meant he found Siver's timing. Game over! #UFC162 — Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) July 7, 2013

Good stop by herb dean...it's pro Fighting..$ is on the line. let guys go as long as they can... — Brian Rogers (@BRogthePredator) July 7, 2013

Awesome performance @CubSwanson they gotta give you that title shot soon. Your running out of people to beat up! — Aaron Riley (@aaronrileymma) July 7, 2013

Also think herb should have stopped that a tad bit earlier — isaac vallie-flagg (@IKEVF) July 7, 2013

Impressive as always Cub Swanson does it again. Very fun to watch #UFC162 — TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) July 7, 2013

Congrats @CubSwanson! Amazing finish ya stud. — Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) July 7, 2013

Wow Swanson made him look terrible in the 3rd! — Ben Askren (@Benaskren) July 7, 2013

If cub isn't getting the next shot id love to see him rematch lamas. — Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) July 7, 2013

@CubSwanson looked amazing tonight for sure he has earned a title shot @danawhite 👍 — Brad Pickett (@One_Punch) July 7, 2013

COLLASPE OF THE CRIPPLER

Tough fight @cripplerufc love you bro — Phil Davis (@PhilMrWonderful) July 7, 2013

Leben is a freaking trooper!! — Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) July 7, 2013

Andrew Craig looks like my boy @urijahfaber on a hot dose of whatever Alistar Overrated takes. — Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) July 7, 2013

29-28 leben! I say he takes a split dec! — Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) July 7, 2013

Impressive fight for Andrew Craig. Leben is a fans fighter! How can you not love watching him fight! @ufc @danawhite — Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) July 7, 2013

Always felt Leben was most dangerous as a counter striker. #UFC162 — Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) July 7, 2013

Heart & a good chin should NEVER be what a fighter formulates his tactics around. Heart & a good chin is for EMERGENCIES ONLY! #UFC — Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) July 7, 2013

Just wanna thank every one that stayed in my corner n supported me. Tried 2 push pace n keep fight exciting. — Chris Leben (@cripplerufc) July 7, 2013