I meant to write a full preview for yesterday, but I forgot. It just slipped my mind. The actual event didn’t. Just the act of sitting and writing about the event. Let’s not dwell on my faulty memory though. Let’s talk UFC 97. Co-headlining events tonight with Anderson Silva taking on Thales Leites and Chuck Liddell (hopefully) battling Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

Anderson Silva is going for his 9th straight win in the UFC. He’s won every single time he’s stepped foot inside the Octagon. Ever. He’s been dominant. He’s toyed with other fighters. Dana White says if he wins this fight he’s the best ever. I think he’s already there. It’s hard to tell just how good he is because of how easy he makes it look.

“The Spider’s” latest attacker will be fellow Brazilian, Thales Leites. Leites has no nickname or I would have started this sentence with it. He boasts a record of 14-1 including 5 straight in the UFC. Leites figures to be the toughest test for Anderson Silva yet. Of course, they say that about everyone he is matched up against.

I’m guessing Silva messes around for a round and then finishes Leites in the 2nd.

In the main event no one was clamoring to see, Chuck Liddell faces off against Shogun Rua. Liddell was last seen getting knocked-the-fuck-out by current Light Heavyweight champion Rashad Evans. “The Iceman” has lost 3 of his last 4 fights. Though to be fair, losing to Rampage Jackson, Keith Jardine and Evans isn’t really anything to be ashamed of.

Rua was last seen boring me to tears in January in his return to the UFC after knee surgery. Rua was considered by some to be the best LHW in the world when he originally came to the UFC in 2007. He lost to Forrest Griffin, tore his ACL and was out of the sport for nearly 2 years. His return against the ancient Mark Coleman was described on this very site by this very blogger as “subduing a grandparent” or “turtles fucking.” Somehow it won fight of the night.

With some time to think about it, I’m willing to give Rua another chance. It was his first fight back after blowing out his knee and he’s only 27 years old. As long as his knee continues to get stronger, he still has a lifetime left in MMA. This could be Rua’s coming out party.

I’m also looking forward to watching Cheick Kongo tonight. It’s always interesting to see if the French Physical Freak has continued in his progression as a fighter. He’ll take on 8-4 Dutchman Antoni Hardonk.

Show starts at 10pm on PPV and Yahoo! Sports. Here’s the rest of the card:

  • Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Brian Stann
  • Luis Cane vs. Steve Cantwell

PRELIMINARY CARD (un-televised)

  • Vinicius Magalhaes vs. Eliot Marshall
  • Xavier Foupa-Pokam vs. Denis Kang
  • Jason MacDonald vs. Nate Quarry
  • Ed Herman vs. David Loiseau
  • David Bielkheden vs. Mark Bocek
  • Ryo Chonan vs. T.J. Grant
  • Sam Stout vs. Matt Wiman