UFC 168: "Weidman vs. Silva 2" is almost here. Just a few more hours, and hopefully, we get to see all hell break loose at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Here is another edition of Buzzfeed!, where we analyze the most anticipated event of the year as a whole.
Here we go:
Who: Chris Weidman vs. Anderson Silva
What: UFC 168: "Weidman vs. Silva 2"
When: Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013
Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
Why It Matters: July 6, 2013 ... that's why!
What's Hot: The obvious answer here would be two heavily anticipated championship rematches, based on the sheer power of their previous encounters and bad blood among the competitors involved.
Anderson Silva will try and reclaim the throne in a division where he was king for so long, and avenge his knockout loss to the current champion Chris Weidman. "All American," meanwhile, looks for his first title defense and a second win over "The Spider" in less than on year.
The co-main event features Ronda Rousey against her arch-enemy and The Ultimate Fighter 18 (TUF) rival coach, Miesha Tate, in a rematch from their 2012 encounter where "Rowdy" took home "Cupcake's" limb via what is becoming her patented first-round armbar.
There is no better feeling than a stacked pay-per-view-card (PPV) if you are a fan of the sport ... and this weekend should be more than substantial to our needs.
What's Not: With that being said, UFC's $5 PPV price hike did not sit well with most fans and Dana White's reasoning was equally as frustrating (the simple "cuz," saying it was not his decision does not give concrete evidence that the hike was justifiable). Nonetheless, UFC is a business, and if it feels it can pinch an extra fin because it can than so be it. But, if White says this will be the only increase, then please, make sure of that.
New Blood: None! All 22 fighters on the card have stepped inside the Octagon before in the past.
Original Card vs. Actual Card: There possibly cannot be any complaints for this fight card since the main events have remained intact and those two fights are the primary reason the bill is so stunning.
Initially, Cat Zingano was supposed to face Rousey after winning a title eliminator bout against Tate, but she suffered an injury and relinquished her place on TUF 18. Tate stepped in and now faces the current champion and longtime foe.
Shane del Rosario was supposed to face Guto Inocente; however both participants pulled out of the bout, and we were left with a tragedy when the former fighter suffered a life-ending heart attack.
How The "Prelims" Look: Not bad at all.
Chris Leben and Uriah Hall will lead the FOX Sports 1 (FS1) portion of this fight card. Notable fights that come before them include a Lightweight scrap between Gleison Tibau and Michael Johnson, a Featherweight firecracker between Gleison Siver and Manny Gamburyan and a Welterweight battle that features John Howard and Siyar Bahadurzada.
Kicking things off on the Facebook portion of the "Prelims" will be Robbie Peralta duking it out with Estevan Payan along with William Macario against Bobby Voelker.
Who Needs A Win Badly: Apart from the combatants on the PPV who are fighting in bouts with title implications, Chris Leben and Uriah Hall seem to be in a "loser leaves town" match, and with Leben heading into the bout on a three-fight losing streak, it is uncertain if he will get the pink slip or if he will be in a retirement talk sit-down with his bosses.
Hall, meanwhile, has been told that if he does not win his first UFC fight out of three tries he is a goner.
Bobby Voelker will try to bounce back into the win column after two consecutive losses, and apart from that, a handful of fighters are coming into their fights with a loss and that should not prove too costly if they lose again unless the promotion feels it is necessary to cut ties with certain individuals.
Interest Level: 10/10
Might as well give the card the highest rating possible; however, the main- and co-main events are the true reason this card gets a perfect 10.
The truth is there have been cards in the past that have been equally as important and grandiose, however it is arguable to say there have been greater fight cards assembled. Or at least one that really does not need a $5 increase for no apparent reason other than a holiday bonus for the promotion.
Still, this is the year-end card and those usually prove to be amazing.
Weidman and Silva has the possibility go down as the best series of match ups in UFC middleweight history (alongside the Brazilian's duels with Chael Sonnen). And the co-main event is a feud made for pro wrestling television.
Full card: Here is the entire UFC 168: "Weidman vs. Silva 2" fight card:
Main Event:
185 lbs.: UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman vs. Anderson Silva
Pay-Per-View Main Card (10 p.m. ET):
135 lbs.: UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey vs. Miesha Tate
265 lbs.: Josh Barnett vs. Travis Browne
155 lbs.: Fabricio Camoes vs. Jim Miller
145 lbs.: Diego Brandao vs. Dustin PoirierFOX Sports 1 Prelims (8 p.m. ET):
185 lbs.: Uriah Hall vs. Chris Leben
155 lbs.: Michael Johnson vs. Gleison Tibau
145 lbs.: Manny Gamburyan vs. Dennis Siver
185 lbs.: Siyar Bahadurzada vs. John HowardFacebook Prelims (7 p.m. ET):
170 lbs.: William Macario vs. Bobby Voelker
145 lbs.: Estevan Payan vs. Robbie Peralta