Tonight's UFC 97 has a pretty stacked card which includes two main events
The first main event is the always dangerous Anderson "The Spider" Silva VS Thales Leites. Silva who is the best pound for pound fighter @ 185 will put his belt on the line for this title fight.
Both Silva and Leites hail from Brazil, and both hold Black Belts in Brazilian Ju-Jistu. If Silva defeats Thales Leites tonight he will set a record for most consecutive wins in the Octagon, as well as tie Matt Hughes and Tito Ortiz for most consecutive successful title defenses. As if that isn't enough. If he knocks out Leites he will tie Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, and Matt Hughes for most KO's in championship fights!
I don't know what Thales Leites has as far as a game plan goes, but for his sake it better be a good one. Anderson Silva is an extremely well rounded MMA fighter. He will stand up and strike with anyone, take the fight to the ground and go for a submission, it doesn't matter. Silva does have a lot in his arsenal, but if he gets that Muay Thai Plum on Leites, lookout because he's got some vicious knees! Just ask Rich Franklin.
Next co main event on the fight card has been years in the making. UFC fan favorite Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell VS. former Pride champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. Both fighters are excellent strikers, and this looks like it could be an all out slug fest. Liddel who is 1-3 in his last four fights, vows to silence his critics with this fight. Liddell was beaten by Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Keith Jardine,and Rashad Evans in those three losses, and two happened to come by knockout. Being that Chuck has dominated the light heavyweight division for years, of course the critics are gonna crawl out of the woodwork. Some people just don't understand that your not gonna win every fight, there comes a time when you get caught. All it takes is one good shot right on the button, and it's lights out! Just like "any given Sunday" in Football. The same goes for a fight, anything can happen.
Liddell predicts that he'll knockout Shogun. I guess we'll find out.
