The UFC Bantamweight Champion, Dominick "The Dominator" Cruz makes his return to The Octagon after a long recovery form a knee injury that's kept him away since October 2011. But the bantamweight division has not slowed down in his absence, and UFC Interim Bantamweight Champion, Renan Barao will look to unify the title he has defended twice. Also, UFC Featherweight Champion, Jose Aldo, steps up once again to defend his own belt against Miami's Ricardo Lamas, undefeated in the UFC. UFC 169: Cruz vs. Barao LIVE on PAY-PER-VIEW from Newark, New Jersey.
UFC 168 takes place in Las Vegas on December 28th, and is headlined by two huge title rematches. The main event will see UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman attempt to defeat former champ Anderson Silva for the second time, while Ronda Rousey will defend her women's bantamweight title against fellow TUF coach Miesha Tate.
The card also features a big heavyweight bout between Josh Barnett and Travis Browne, along with a bevy of action at the lighter weights. Here's a look at the current card, which isn't set in stone as of yet.
“Anderson is gonna fight Chris Weidman on Dec. 28 in Las Vegas and it is gonna be the biggest fight we've ever done,” said White. “That gate is already at like $5.6 million and the pay-per-view is gonna be huge. It's gonna be a massive event and whoever wins, yes, will fight Vitor Belfort, unless something crazy happens and somebody gets hurt.”
The biggest gate in the U.S. is UFC 148, which featured Anderson Silva putting his middleweight title on the line against Chael Sonnen for the second time. That event was also held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and did $6,901,655 in gate receipts.
One of MMA's best pound for pound, Georges St-Pierre, has been unbeaten for 6 years, defending his UFC welterweight title 8 times in the process. But at UFC 167, Montreal's finest will be facing an opponent with the style and desire to end his streak in explosive fashion: Johny Hendricks. A two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion with one-punch knockout power, "Bigg Rigg" is set on derailing St-Pierre's march to the Hall of Fame. Plus, former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans and contender Chael Sonnen meet in a highly-anticipated matchup that will make UFC's 20th anniversary one to remember. UFC 167: St-Pierre vs Hendricks - Saturday, November 16, live on Pay-Per-View from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
