UFC 147: 10 Reasons You Can't Miss This Event

Ever since fans found out the anticipated rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen wouldn't happen at UFC 147 in Brazil, the card was doomed. Fans are already billing it as the worst card in UFC history.

I will agree that this isn't a blockbuster card, and I'll also agree this is the type of card the UFC usually would offer for free, but in no way is this a bad card.

For starters, the card is in Brazil. A Brazilian fight crowd could get you excited to watch Bob Sapp take on Jon Fitch.

The card features some of the best young talent out of Brazil, two heavyweights on the verge of title contention and a main event that features two of the best fighters in MMA history.

If that's still not enough for you, here are ten reasons you can't miss UFC 147.

10. The Brazilian Crowd

One group of fans you don't hear complaining about UFC 147 is the Brazilian faithful, who are more than ready to host another UFC event.

At UFC events, you really just see a bunch of drunk guys in Tapout shirts trying to get on T.V. You hear boos almost as soon as the fight goes to the ground. In Brazil, it's a completely different scene.

I'm not a big soccer fan, but whenever there are soccer games in Brazil, I watch, just to listen to the crowd. Rain or shine, whether their team is winning or losing, the crowd gives 100 percent the entire match. 

They do the same for MMA events.

If you missed UFC 142, you can't miss this event, if only to see that the great fans of Brazil might just be the best MMA fans in the world.

9. The Undercard

I'm not sure there's ever been an undercard with a combined record this good.

If you combine the records of the eight fighters fighting on the preliminary card on FX, as well as the four fighters fighting on the prelim card on Facebook, you end up with an astounding final record of 145-37-4.

I'm no UFC history major, but that has to be one of the best overall combined records for any prelim card in UFC history. 

And, if you are still bitter about the main card being on pay-per-view, you can at least check out the free preliminary card on FX and Facebook.

8. The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil Level of Talent

Many fans unfortunately missed out on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil due to the fact is was broadcast online and the entire show was in Portuguese. Therefore, to understand, you had to read subtitles.

I checked out the first episode, which featured the fights to get into the house. And after that, I was hooked. One of the most talented seasons of The Ultimate Fighter I've ever seen. Every dude that got into the house had the potential to be an elite MMA fighter.

The season is playing now on Fuel TV, but many of the guys from the show are fighting this weekend at UFC 147.  

7. Alcantara vs. Dias

If there is one fight that is set to steal the show, it would have to be my personal pick for Fight of the Night, and that's this featherweight match-up between Yuri Alcantara and Hacran Dias. 

Alcantara enters this bout riding a nice 13-fight winning streak, and is coming off a win over Michihiro Omigawa at UFC 142, which was also held in Brazil. Another win at UFC 147 for Alcantara could definitely get him into title contention. 

Standing in his way is exciting UFC newcomer, Hacran Dias, who was one of the 300 first-stage applicants for The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil. The UFC pulled him and signed him to a three-fight deal. 

Dias will make his Octagon debut riding an eight-fight winning streak of his own, and has won three out of his last four fights by submission.

One of these men will take a huge step towards becoming a top featherweight contender with this matchup, which will kick off the main card on pay-per-view.

6. An Exciting New Featherweight Contender Will Emerge

The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil's Featherweight Final is set between Godofredo Pepey and Rony Mariano "Jason" Bezerra. 

Pepey, who will enter the octagon for the first time with a perfect 8-0 record, has never been to a decision in his professional MMA career, owning six submission and knockout victories. Pepey also won two fights on The Ultimate Fighter by submission.

Bezerra enters the octagon on a five-fight winning streak, and has actually fought UFC 149 main event fighter Renan Barao and lost a close split decision back in 2006.

With the level of talent on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil, whoever wins this fight should be immediately placed into the featherweight title picture.

5. Russow Could Play Spoiler

Americans haven't fared too well in Brazil against the Brazilian fighters over the years. Combined, at UFC 142 and UFC 134, Americans are 1-9 against Brazilian fighters. This is just one of the obstacles in front of heavyweight Mike Russow.

He also faces the challenge of fighting a man who is coming off one of the most impressive fights of his career in Fabricio Werdum, who destroyed "Big Country" Roy Nelson.

Russow has won 11 fights in a row and enters UFC 147 with a lot of momentum, but nowhere near the hype that Werdum brings in. Many were calling for Werdum to face a higher ranked opponent, such as Frank Mir or Cain Velasquez. But don't sleep on Russow.

Russow was the underdog against Todd Duffee and John-Olav Einemo, but was able to pull off big wins in both of those fights.

This is a huge opportunity for Russow, and a win over Werdum would be the biggest of his career.

4. Which Fabricio Werdum Will Show Up to Brazil?

Fabricio Werdum returns to the octagon coming off his big win against Roy Nelson. In that fight, Werdum displayed excellent striking and devastating muay thai. Werdum looked like a man who could be in line for a future title shot.

But, this isn't the first time everyone has been high on Werdum. Remember when he knocked off the great Fedor? People started immediately calling him a top five heavyweight and then, he fought Alistair Overeem and lost one of the most boring decisions I've ever seen.

Now, fighting in his home country for the first time since 2004, Werdum has a chance to make another big statement. Will we continue to see this much-improved Werdum?

3. Can Moraes Comeback to Win the Ultimate Fighter?

The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil middleweight finale was originally supposed to be a matchup between Daniel Sarafian and Cezar Ferreira, but an injury to Sarafian forced him to pull out of the co-main event, and he was replaced by Sergio Moraes.

Moraes fell victim to one of the best knockouts on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil at the hands of Sarafian. But now, Moraes gets a chance to redeem himself by having an opportunity to still win The Ultimate Fighter.

While it might not be the same amazing story as Mike Chiesa on The Ultimate Fighter: Live, it'll still be an interesting conclusion to see a man who lost inside the house possibly win The Ultimate Fighter.

2. Possibility of This Being Either Franklin's or Silva's Final MMA Fight

It's always a treat to be able to watch a star athlete's final performance, and there is a slight chance that could be the case at UFC 147.

Both Rich Franklin and Wanderlei Silva are coming to the end of their storied careers, and if either man is defeated decisively, we could see the second retirement speech of the weekend.

1. Franklin vs. Silva II

A lot of people were slightly unhappy when they heard about the UFC booking this rematch when Silva's original opponent, Vitor Belfort, was injured. Do you guys not remember the UFC 99 Fight of the Night?

Both men were standing and trading and looking to finish one another, and at this point in their careers, neither has anything to lose. I think we'll see even more action, and maybe even a finish.

Franklin enters this fight coming off a 16-month layoff and is 2-2 in his last four fights. His most recent performance saw him lose a unanimous decision to Forrest Griffin back at UFC 126. The former Middleweight Champion is now injury-free and looks to make one more run in the middleweight division.

Wanderlei Silva will enter the octagon fresh off finishing his coaching stint on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil. He is also coming off a TKO victory over Cung Le at UFC 139. Silva's UFC career hasn't been the best, as he holds a 4-6 record inside the octagon.

The UFC 147 main event will be fought at a catch weight of 190 lbs, but the winner of the fight will be taking a big step towards possibly making one last title run in the UFC middleweight division.