UFC 168: 'Weidman vs Silva 2' seven-day, seven-city 'Media Tour' schedule announced

The rematch between Middleweight champion Chris Weidman vs. Anderson Silva is already being dubbed the "biggest fight in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) history.

That's according to company president Dana White (read his claim here), who convinced "The Spider" to headline UFC 168, which takes place at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Dec. 28, 2013, and attempt to reclaim the 185-pound world title that "All American" captured over Fourth of July weekend.

Silva, who exclaimed, "I Back!," doesn't plan to "goof around" like he did at UFC 162, which resulted in him staring at the lights courtesy of a shocking second round technical knockout. He's already "fixing errors" in Thailand and treating this high-profile mixed martial arts (MMA) showdown, seemingly, like none other.

And so, too, is UFC, which today (Sept. 16, 2013) announced a seven-day, seven-city promotional world tour to promote UFC 168: "Weidman vs. Silva 2" that kicks off next week.

Here is the schedule:

• Monday, Sept. 23 -- Los Angeles, Calif. -- UFC Gym in Torrance, 4 p.m. PT: Q&A with UFC President Dana White, UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman and former Middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Free and open to the public.
• Tuesday, Sept. 24 -- Las Vegas, Nevada -- Main Lobby, MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, 11 a.m. PT: Press conference with UFC President Dana White, Chris Weidman and Anderson Silva. Free and open to the public, streamed live on UFC.com.
• Wednesday, Sept. 25 - New York, N.Y. -- UFC Gym John Street, 5 p.m. ET: Autograph signing with Weidman and Silva for the first 300 fans.
• Thursday, Sept. 26 -- Bristol, Conn.: ESPN Press Day. Media only.
• Friday, Sept. 27 -- Miami, Fla. -- Klipsch Ampitheater at Bayfront Park, 1 p.m. ET: Open workout with Weidman and Silva. Free and open to the public.
• Sunday, Sept. 29 -- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -- (location/details forthcoming): Q&A with UFC President Dana White, Chris Weidman and Anderson Silva. Free and open to the public.
• Monday, Sept. 30 -- Sao Paulo, Brazil: Press conference (location/details forthcoming) with UFC President Dana White, Chris Weidman and Anderson Silva. Streamed live on UFC.com.

UFC recently tied a ribbon around a similar "World Tour," which paraded eight of its biggest stars, including Jon Jones, Alexander Gustafsson, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos, Georges St. Pierre, Johny Hendricks, Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate, throughout 11 cities in five countries.

Perhaps the blockbuster boxing showdown between Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Saul "Canelo" Alvarez that took place this past weekend -- a colossal PPV event that even White made sure to attend live -- inspired the promotion to go the extra promotional mile to push "Weidman vs. Silva 2."

Go big or go home.

For more on UFC 168 be sure to check out our complete event archive right here. And to check out the latest "Weidman vs. Silva 2" fight card and rumors click here.