UFC 168: Weidman vs. Silva 2 Round-by-Round Recap and Analysis

UFC 168 is here, bringing fight fans something far better than a fat, bearded guy in a sleigh could ever deliver. 

As soon as Chris Weidman smashed his left fist into Anderson Silva's dome at UFC 162, sending the champion tumbling to the canvas in a heap, one word bounced around the heads of fans and critics worldwide: rematch. 

Did Weidman get lucky, or is he the new breed of fighter here to cast the pound-for-pound greatest fighter of all time from his throne for good?

Will Silva clown around as he did in the first fight? Is he more motivated than ever?

Can he beat Weidman, even at his best?

These questions will be answered Saturday evening, as our main event kicks off and satisfies a six-month itch that has pestered the fight world since that July evening when Weidman decided to transcend greatness. 

Come back as the action unfolds for a round-by-round recap and analysis of this anticipated matchup between the middleweight division's finest combatants.  

Round 1

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Spor

They touch gloves, and Weidman has a takedown early. 

Silva pops back up, and they tie up in the clinch. 

Weidman rocks Silva! I think. Did that land? Hot damn. Is this serious? 

Silva goes to the canvas, and Weidman pounds away with some ground-and-pound. 

The champ is looking for an ezekiel choke. If he could finish this, I would explode...and so would Luke Thomas, apparently. 

"

If Weidman had stopped him with an ezekial choke, I would have had a heart attack.

— Luke Thomas (@SBNLukeThomas) December 29, 2013

Silva recovers, and Weidman goes to work from the guard. 

Top control ends the round. 

This is an easy 10-9 for the champion. 

"

Round 2

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Spor

Round 2 begins, and the tension is high. 

A quick leg kick from Silva lands. 

...No...

No!

NO!!!

Silva leg kicks Weidman and breaks his leg, crashing to the canvas in an injured heap of bone and muscle. 

This is sad. It wasn't supposed to end like this. 

"

Disastrous. Silva's shin snapped on the kick. Replay is crazy. Wow.

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) December 29, 2013"

It will go in the books as a TKO, but this score is still not settled. 

Is Silva headed for retirement after this devastating injury?

Sound off, and we'll discuss.