UFC 97: Silva vs. Lietes - The Main Card
The Ultimate Fighting Championships returns to Canadian Soil.
Feb 25, 2009 Mellissa Scotland
The main event for UFC 97
In the main event, Anderson “The Spider” Silva putting his Middleweight title on the line against number one contender Thiago Lietes. Since gaining the UFC Middle weight title from Rich Franklin at UFC 64 “Unstoppable”, Anderson Silva has successfully defended his title in match ups against Dan Henderson, Rich Franklin (in a rematch), Nate Marquardt and Patrick Cote at UFC 90, where he won by TKO.
Thales Lietes earned the right to a title shot after he was victorious over Drew McFedries at the same show Anderson Silva put away Patrick Cote, UFC 90. Having only one loss in his MMA career, Lietes was defeated by Martin Kampmann during the Ultimate Fighter season four finale. Since making his professional debut in the UFC octagon, Thales has been victorious in all of his five fights, which include Nate Marquardt and Pete Sell.
Thales has the opportunity to try and do what no other man has been able to do in The Ultimate Fighting Championships, beat Anderson Silva and take his Middleweight title.
The Main Card for UFC 97
In the co-main event, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua takes on “The Ice Man” Chuck Liddell. This bout was supposed to take place at UFC 85. However, Rua was replaced by Rashad Evans after he suffered an injury while training and could not compete. Rua was last seen in the octagon at UFC 93, where he was given the opportunity to avenge the loss he suffered at the hands of Mark Coleman at Pride Fighting Championships (Pride FC) 31 “Unbreakable”. Rua defeated Coleman by TKO in the third round.
UFC veteran Chuck Liddell steps back into the octagon, after losing his last bout against now Light Heavyweight champion, Rashad Evans, by KO. Liddell’s last win was at UFC 79 Nemesis, where he defeated former Pride FC Middleweight champion, Wanderlei Silva. After years of talk of who was the better fighter, the two superstars finally got the chance to prove their worth. It was three rounds of Liddell dominating the famed Brazilian star, who lost by unanimous judges decision.
Mauricio Rua made it no secret that he wanted to avenge the loss of his former teammate and still good friend Wandelei Silva, after his loss to the Ice Man. For both Men, emerging victorious from this fight can possibly set them back on the road to the most coveted prize of the UFC Light Heavyweight division.
The last three main card bouts for the evening features French kick boxer, Cheick “Unstoppable” Kongo, taking on Dutch fighter, Antoni Hardonk. Both fighters are coming off of victories. Cheick Kongo could become a contender for the Heavyweight title, should he be victorious over Hardonk.
Making his return to the octagon after a victory over Cameroon-born Light Heavyweight Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Luiz Cane takes on Steve Cantwell, former World Extreme Cagefighting Light Heavyweight champion. Cantwell is coming off a victory in his UFC debut over Razak Al-Hassanat UFC-Fight for the Troops.
The last main card bout will put Brian Stann,making his UFC debut, against Krzysztof Soszynski. Soszynski is coming off a submission victory over Shane Primm, at the Ultimate Fighter 8 finale.
Preliminary Bouts for UFC 97:
Nathan Quarry vs. Jason MacDonald
Denis Kang vs. Xavier Fouka-Pokum
David Loiseau vs. Ed Herman
T.J. Grant vs. Ryo Chonan
David Bielkheden vs. Mark Bocek
Matt Wilman vs. Sam Stout
Click below for Main card results:
http://ultimatefighting.suite101.com/article.cfm/ufc_97_results
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