UFC 183: 7 Reasons to Watch Silva vs. Diaz Fight Card
We all know what UFC 183 is about.
It will mark the return of the greatest fighter in the history of the sport.
Draped with sensational accolades and unparalleled talent, former UFC middleweight kingpin Anderson "The Spider" Silva will once again step foot inside of the Octagon.
His journey has been full of memorable ups and egregious downs, but the Brazilian knockout artist is set to put aside recent championship defeats and an unlikely leg injury to make one more run at divisional gold.
But that isn't the only storyline this Saturday in Las Vegas.
As a matter of fact, there are many more.
Here are reasons to tune in for some fast-paced fights on one of the busiest sports weekends of the year.
7. Leites' Divisional Climb
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Don't look now, but Thales Leites is officially throwing his name back into the middleweight title discussion.
As a former top contender who more or less lay down for five straight rounds opposite Anderson Silva back at UFC 97, the 33-year-old Brazilian now knows what he needs to do to regain his elite label.
Since his return to the promotion back in 2013, Leites' stand-up game has evolved, as he has finished both Francis Carmont and Trevor Smith via strikes.
It's a remarkable turnaround for a submission expert who had shied away from close-range exchanges just a few years ago.
If Leites can knock off a thick-headed Tim Boetsch this Saturday, then his divisional stock will increase even further, which would certainly land him a fight with a Top 10 opponent.
6. Welterweight Crossroads
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When former top contender Thiago Alves and current rising star Jordan Mein lock horns this weekend at UFC 183, it will be a crucial meeting of two fighters on different paths.
For Alves, who has competed just twice since 2011, a victory over Mein will not only prove that he still has the elite skills to challenge the division's best but also show his ability to compete without injury.
As for Mein, whose promotional rise was momentarily derailed by a vicious TKO loss to Matt Brown back in 2013, an impressive performance opposite a seasoned vet like Pitbull will make him a true up-and-coming contender in 2015.
Either way you split it, Alves and Mein possess the volatile offense to create a memorable welterweight banger, one that could well capture Fight of the Night honors.
5. The Battle of Former Rousey Challengers
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Ronda Rousey is the greatest female fighter in the world for a reason.
Undefeated and unscathed, she has dissected some of the more well-rounded contenders in the sport.
Miesha Tate and Sara McMann have both found themselves on the wrong end of a fight with the champ and felt the repercussions, but that hasn't derailed their focus.
They will both put their aspirations for a rematch with Rousey on the line this Saturday in one of the more interesting and even-keeled matchups in the women's bantamweight division.
The fact that it will be featured for free as the preliminary headliner on Fox Sports 1 is icing on an already tasty cupcake.
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4. Flyweight Title Eliminator
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There's no denying that UFC flyweight champion Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson is the most dominant titleholder in the sport today.
While DJ's success is a direct product of hard work and unfathomable natural abilities, the short list of divisional contenders helps play a role in his Octagon dominance.
However, with crisp strikers Ian McCall and John Lineker looming in the distance, Johnson could be in store for the biggest title defense of his career in 2015.
But McCall and Lineker must first duke it out at UFC 183 in what many consider a dream matchup at 125 pounds.
It should be noted that this fight was scheduled to take place back in November but was cancelled when Uncle Creepy had to pull out due to a blood infection.
Let's hope that doesn't happen again.
3. Diaz's Middleweight Debut
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It takes a certain kind of crazy, or superior confidence, to return to the cage after a two-year absence, jump up a whole weight class and take on a motivated Anderson Silva.
Fortunately for everyone and anyone with an eye for action, Nick Diaz is that unhinged.
But as a fighter who encompasses some of the best pure boxing skills in the sport today, the Stockton brawler is able to fuel his self-assurance with quick movement and crisp strikes.
Whether a lengthy absence from action plays a role in Diaz's ability to find his rhythm this Saturday is yet to be determined, but quickly finding a groove has never been an issue for the former welterweight.
However, against a world-class superhero like Silva, Diaz will have to fight at his absolute best to make his UFC middleweight debut a victorious one.
2. Gastelum's Rise to Contention
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Kelvin Gastelum may be the most underrated, unassuming and undefeated former The Ultimate Fighter winner this world has ever seen.
It may be due to the heavily stacked division he resides in or his relatively unexplored microphone game, but Gastelum hasn't received the recognition he deserves.
But with a victory over highly touted Tyron Woodley this weekend on pay-per-view, the evolving 23-year-old can finally break out under the bright lights.
The only issue is Woodley.
As arguably the most physically imposing welterweight walking under the sun, The Chosen One sports the wrestling and one-punch knockout power to stop anyone he encounters, including Gastelum.
It will be up to Mini Cain to push the pace, tire Woodley, score points at every turn and look for a late finish.
1. The Return
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The return of a king only comes around so often, especially in a sport driven by physical and mental perfection.
That's why Anderson Silva's comeback at UFC 183 this weekend should be one of the more memorable Octagon moments of all time.
When something as prolific and career-defining as this actually happens, the possibilities are truly endless.
This 2015 return could be the spark of a new era in The Spider's career. It could also end in disaster and leave the most dedicated of fight fans scratching their heads.
Either way, the combat world will be at a standstill when the greatest mixed martial artist ever steps inside the cage one more time.
Come Saturday, after Silva and Diaz touch gloves and the lights go down in Las Vegas, we'll finally find out if legends can rise.
For more UFC news and coverage, Follow @DHiergesell
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