UFC middleweight champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva returns to the Octago on Saturday, April 18th to defend his crown against number one contender Thales Leites in the main event of UFC 97. The pound for pound king has already defended his title more times than anyone in UFC middleweight history and will battle Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Leites - winner of five in a row.
Also featured in the UFC's return to Canada is the light heavyweight showdown fans have waited for years to see, as UFC legend Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell squares off against Brazilian superstar Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in what promises to be one of the most explosive bouts of 2009.
Anderson Silva Vs. Thales Leites
Name: Anderson Silva
Height: 6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight: 185 (84 kg)
Record: 23-4-0
Anderson Silva
"The Spider"
Name: Thales Leites
Height: 6' 1" (185 cm)
Weight: 185 (84 kg)
Record: 14-1-0
Thales Leites
Chuck Liddell Vs. Mauricio Rua
Name: Chuck Liddell
Height: 6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight: 205 (93 kg)
Record: 21-6-0
Chuck Liddell
"The Iceman"
Name: Mauricio Rua
Height: 6' 1" (185 cm)
Weight: 205 (93 kg)
Record: 17-3-0
Mauricio Rua
"Shogun"
Krzysztof Soszynski Vs. Brian Stann
Name: Krzysztof Soszynski
Height: 6' 1" (185 cm)
Weight: 205 (93 kg)
Record: 17-9-1
Krzysztof Soszynski
"The Polish Experiment"
Name: Brian Stann
Height: 6' 1" (185 cm)
Weight: 205 (93 kg)
Record: 6-1-0
Brian Stann
"All American"
Cheick Kongo Vs. Antoni Hardonk
Name: Cheick Kongo
Height: 6' 4" (193 cm)
Weight: 240 (109 kg)
Record: 23-4-1
Cheick Kongo
Name: Antoni Hardonk
Height: 6' 4" (193 cm)
Weight: 245 (111 kg)
Record: 8-4-0
Antoni Hardonk
Steve Cantwell Vs. Luiz Cane
Name: Steve Cantwell
Height: 6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight: 205 (93 kg)
Record: 7-1-0
Steve Cantwell
"Robot"
Name: Luiz Cane
Height: 6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight: 205 (93 kg)
Record: 10-1-1
Luiz Cane
"Banha"
Eliot Marshall Vs. Vinicius Magalhaes
Name: Eliot Marshall
Height: 6' 3" (191 cm)
Weight: 205 (93 kg)
Record: 6-2-0
Eliot Marshall
"The Fire"
Name: Vinicius Magalhaes
Height: 6' 3" (191 cm)
Weight: 205 (93 kg)
Record: 3-3-1
Vinicius Magalhaes
"Vinny"
May not be broadcast. Click for details.
Denis Kang Vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam
Name: Denis Kang
Height: 5' 11" (180 cm)
Weight: 185 (84 kg)
Record: 31-11-1
Denis Kang
Name: Xavier Foupa-Pokam
Height: 6' 1" (185 cm)
Weight: 185 (84 kg)
Record: 20-9-0
Xavier Foupa-Pokam
"The Professor X"
May not be broadcast. Click for details.
Jason MacDonald Vs. Nate Quarry
Name: Jason MacDonald
Height: 6' 3" (191 cm)
Weight: 185 (84 kg)
Record: 22-11-0
Jason MacDonald
"The Athlete"
Name: Nate Quarry
Height: 6' 0" (183 cm)
Weight: 185 (84 kg)
Record: 16-3-0
Nate Quarry
"Rock"
May not be broadcast. Click for details.
David Loiseau Vs. Ed Herman
Name: David Loiseau
Height: 6' 0" (183 cm)
Weight: 185 (84 kg)
Record: 18-8-0
David Loiseau
"The Crow"
Name: Ed Herman
Height: 6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight: 185 (84 kg)
Record: 16-6-0
Ed Herman
"Short Fuse"
May not be broadcast. Click for details.
Mark Bocek Vs. David Bielkheden
Name: Mark Bocek
Height: 5' 8" (173 cm)
Weight: 155 (70 kg)
Record: 6-2-0
Mark Bocek
Name: David Bielkheden
Height: 5' 10" (178 cm)
Weight: 155 (70 kg)
Record: 13-6-0
David Bielkheden
May not be broadcast. Click for details.
Ryo Chonan Vs. TJ Grant
Name: Ryo Chonan
Height: 5' 9" (175 cm)
Weight: 170 (77 kg)
Record: 15-9-0
Ryo Chonan
"Piranha"
Name: TJ Grant
Height: 5' 10" (178 cm)
Weight: 170 (77 kg)
Record: 13-2-0
TJ Grant
May not be broadcast. Click for details.
Sam Stout Vs. Matt Wiman
Name: Sam Stout
Height: 5' 9" (175 cm)
Weight: 155 (70 kg)
Record: 14-5-1
Sam Stout
"Hands of Stone"
Name: Matt Wiman
Height: 5' 10" (178 cm)
Weight: 155 (70 kg)
Record: 10-4-0
Matt Wiman
"Handsome"
May not be broadcast. Click for details.
Subject: MMA fans/ UFC 97 REDEMPTION-Apr-18-2009 7pm PT/10pm ET 
Mon Apr 13, 2009 9:51 pm
