On Saturday, Aug. 27, the Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Brazil for the first time in 13 years. “UFC 134: Silva vs. Okami” will take place at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro and feature UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami in the main event.
Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Silva has not fought in his home country since 2003. “The Spider” is currently on a 14-fight win streak and has not lost since 2006 at Rumble on the Rock 8 when he was disqualified after knocking out Okami with an illegal up kick to the face that incapacitated the Japanese fighter. Now some five years later the two will settle the score once and for all.
Brazil is considered the birthplace of modern mixed martial arts and several other Brazilians will be on this card, including former light heavyweight champ Mauricio “Shogun” Rua who will face another former light heavyweight champ, Forrest Griffin, in a rematch from their UFC 76 bout in 2007 when Griffin submitted “Shogun” in what was his UFC debut with only 15 seconds left in the fight.