FIGHT RESULTS:
Middleweight: Anderson Silva def. Nick Diaz via Unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
Catchweight (180 lbs): Tyron Woodley def. Kelvin Gastelum via Split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Lightweight: Al Iaquinta def. Joe Lauzon via TKO (Punches) 3:34 R2
Middleweight: Thales Leites def. Tim Boetsch via Technical submission (Arm-triangle choke) 3:45 R2
Welterweight: Thiago Alves def. Jordan Mein via TKO (Body kick & punches) 0:39 R2
Women’s Bantamweight: Miesha Tate def. Sara McMann via Majority decision (29-28, 29-27, 28-28)
Middleweight: Derek Brunson def. Ed Herman via TKO (Punches) 0:36 R1
Catchweight (130lbs): John Lineker def. Ian McCall via Unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Middleweight: Rafael Natal def. Tom Watson via Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Middleweight: Ildemar Alcantara def. Richardson Moreira via Split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Middleweight: Thiago Santos def. Andy Enz via TKO (Punches) 1:56 R1
Anderson Silva returns to the UFC’s octagon after his horrific injury, and will lock horns with Nick Diaz, who is making his Middleweight debut. Join us on The Roar from 10:30am (AEDT) for live commentary and round-by-round updates.
He is arguably the greatest mixed martial arts fighter of all time, and now Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva (33-6) is set to return to the octagon for the first time since his gruesome leg-break back in December of 2013.
Standing across the cage from him is Nick Diaz (26-9, 1NC), the Californian native is also making his UFC return after his loss to then-champion Georges ‘Rush’ St-Pierre (25-2) back in July of 2013. Diaz has signed a three-fight contract with the UFC, starting with the Silva bot, which will see him move up to Middleweight for the first time.
Anderson Silva is coming off two consecutive losses to the current Middleweight champion Chris Weidman (12-0), and many question the Spiders mindset for his UFC return. Silva says he wants to get his belt back, and a win over Diaz will earn him either a third match against the Weidman, or a rematch against Vitor ‘The Phenom’ Belfort (24-10) depending on the result of their bout next month.
Silva’s family and friends wanted to see the Spider retire from MMA, and there were many who thought we would never see the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in the history of the UFC ever again.
Anderson Silva holds the record for the longest title run in UFC history, and after signing a fifteen fight contract at the age of thirty-nine, not many believe he will break his own record.
Nick Diaz returns to the octagon for the first time since 2013, and will face off against Anderson Silva in what many believe to be the biggest fight of his UFC career.
Diaz is known for his mind-games and trash talk before, and during, fights, but he has been uncharacteristically respectful leading up to his fight against Silva, which believes he is going to win.
A win for Diaz will not only be monumental for his career, but will earn him a shot at UFC gold in his next bout.
In the co-main event Tyron ‘The Chosen One’ Woodley (14-3) will take on UFC rising star Kelvin Gastelum (10-0), in a fight which could see the rise of the next Welterweight title contender.
Both men are coming off performance of the night victories, and both will be looking to put out the other fighters flame on the road to a shot at the UFC Welterweight title.
Gastelum is undefeated in his professional MMA career, and the seventh-ranked fighter is looking to shoot into the top five with an impressive performance over third-ranked Woodley. The Chosen One will be looking to hand Gastelum his first ever loss.
Is Anderson Silva the same fighter he once was, or will Nick Diaz hand the Spider his third straight loss? Is Tyron Woodley the ‘chosen one’, or will undefeated Kelvin Gastelum take his name and earn an eleventh straight win? Join us on The Roar from 10:30am (AEDT) to find out.
Scheduled Bouts:
UFC Fight Pass prelims (3x 5 minute rounds):
Middleweight: Thiago ‘Maretta’ Santos (9-3) vs Andy ‘Lionheart’ Enz (8-2)
Middleweight: Richardson ‘Rick Monstro’ Moreira (7-3) vs Ildemar ‘Marajo’ Alcantara (20-7)
Featherweight: Diego ‘DB’ Brandao (22-10) vs Jimy ‘The Kid’ Hettes (11-2)
Fox Sports preliminaries (3x 5 minute rounds):
Middleweight: Rafael ‘Sapo’ Natal (18-6-1) vs Tom ‘Kong’ Watson (17-7)
Flyweight: #3 Ian ‘Uncle Creepy’ McCall (13-4-1) vs #6 John ‘Hand of Stone’ Lineker (24-7)
Middleweight: Ed ‘Short Fuse’ Herman (23-10, 1NC) vs Derek Brunson (12-3)
Women’s Bantamweight: #2 Miesha ‘Cupcake’ Tate (15-5) vs #3 Sara McMann (8-1)
Main Card on Pay-Per-View (3x 5 minute rounds, main event 5x 5 minute rounds):
Welterweight: Jordan ‘Young Gun’ Mein (29-9) vs Thiago ‘Pitbull’ Alves (25-9)
Middleweight: #11 Thales Leites (24-4) vs #13 Tim ‘The Barbarian’ Boetsch (18-7)
Lightweight: Joe Lauzon (24-10) vs ‘Raging’ Al Iaquinta (10-3-1)
(Co-Main Event) Welterweight: #3 Tyron ‘The Chosen One’ Woodley (14-3) vs #7 Kelvin Gastelum (10-0)
(Main Event, 5x 5 minute rounds) Middleweight: #1 Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva (33-6) vs Nick Diaz (27-9, 1NC)
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Thank you for joining us on The Roar for this live blog, we look forward to seeing you all again soon!
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
FIGHT RESULTS: Middleweight: Anderson Silva def. Nick Diaz via Unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) Catchweight (180 lbs): Tyron Woodley def. Kelvin Gastelum via Split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27) Lightweight: Al Iaquinta def. Joe Lauzon via TKO (Punches) 3:34 R2 Middleweight: Thales Leites def. Tim Boetsch via Technical submission (Arm-triangle choke) 3:45 R2 Welterweight: Thiago Alves def. Jordan Mein via TKO (Body kick & punches) 0:39 R2 Women’s Bantamweight: Miesha Tate def. Sara McMann via Majority decision (29-28, 29-27, 28-28) Middleweight: Derek Brunson def. Ed Herman via TKO (Punches) 0:36 R1 Catchweight (130lbs): John Lineker def. Ian McCall via Unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Middleweight: Rafael Natal def. Tom Watson via Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26) Middleweight: Ildemar Alcantara def. Richardson Moreira via Split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Middleweight: Thiago Santos def. Andy Enz via TKO (Punches) 1:56 R1
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Nick Diaz put on a show!
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
A very emotional Anderson Silva is crying his eyes out here, he returns with a victory. Great thing to see. Both men showing respect now.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
THE OFFICIAL DECISION: Anderson Silva def. Nick Diaz (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Amazing fight! Both men brought it! Diaz is crazy. Silva ended the fight well. My score: 10-9 Silva (48-46 Silva)
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Anderson Silva vs Nick Diaz – ROUND 5/5 Fifth and final round is underway! Diaz stalking a bouncy Silva. Silva throws a side kick to the leg of Diaz. Diaz still taunting, crazy. Inside leg kick lands for Silva. Anderson moving away from Diaz's kicks well. Silva lands a good jab through the guard of Diaz. Nick Diaz misses with a leg kick again. Diaz landing shots now and they clinch. Silva just misses with a head kick. Diaz looking for a right hook off the counter. Diaz lands a great shot over the top via a left hand! Both men look great still in the last round! Good combination by Silva has he moves away from Diaz's kick. Both men trade kicks. Leg kick lands for Diaz. Silva with a good combination there. Diaz lands some shots of his own. Silva agressive here, hits some shots and just misses with another wheel kick! Leg kick lands by Nick Diaz. One minute to go. Nick Diaz eating shots now, his eye is in bad shape. Diaz just misses with a big swing! Silva lands a good inside leg kick. Diaz just misses with the hook. Diaz throws leg kicks but misses, and a huge double kick just misses by Diaz to end the fight.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Another round for Silva I think, what a close fight. My score: 10-9 Silva.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Anderson Silva vs Nick Diaz – ROUND 4/5 Round four of five underway! What a fight so far! Both men throw kicks. Side kick lands for Silva again. Double jab by the Spider. Diaz just misses with a leg kick. Good kick by Diaz there. Inside leg kick lands for Silva. Silva bouncing around looking for an opening now. Diaz circling now, Silva looks to cut him off. Good shot lands for Silva and Diaz mouths off some more. Silva with a jab to the body. Diaz pushed forward and both men land shots. Leg kick lands for Silva. Diaz lands a good elbow over the top. Double jab by Silva. Diaz misses with the leg kick. Good leg kick by Silva there. They clinch, and Silva lands a soft shot as they break. Diaz looks for a front kick but misses. Diaz taunting him again now. Inside leg kick lands for Silva. Silva with a good leg moving across the body of Diaz. Diaz misses with the leg kick again. Diaz taunting Silva at the end of the round.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Silva is starting to really find his rhythm now. My score: 10-9 Silva.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Anderson Silva vs Nick Diaz – ROUND 3/5 Round three underway, this is crazy. Silva with a good body shot. Side kick to the knee of Diaz. Dangerous kick there. Inside leg kick by Silva, he is opening up here. Good straight left by Silva. Diaz still talking trash. This is crazy. Another side kick to the leg. Diaz pushes forward. Inside leg kick lands again by Silva. Silva pushing forward now, Diaz defends well. Silva with a switch kick. Diaz pushed forward now as Silva circles away. Side kick again by Silva to the leg. Thigh punch by Silva. Silva tries a flying knee, Diaz lands a good overhand right hand! Silva lands another leg kick. Silva with jabs. Diaz is taking some shots now. Diaz with a good shot to the body. He lands a jab too. Diaz misses with a leg kick. Inside leg kick lands again by Silva. More kicks by Silva. Good leg kick by Diaz now. Silva goes to the body and just misses with a round house. Another leg kick lands for Silva. Diaz lands a good shot over the top. Diaz lands a good right hook. That is the end of round three.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Very close round there! Have no idea who to give that one too. My score: Draw.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Anderson Silva vs Nick Diaz – ROUND 2/5 Round two is underway. Silva looks for a front kick. Diaz still trying to get into Silva's head. Silva being patient here. Both men look good early in this fight. Inside leg kick lands for Silva. Silva pushes forward now. Diaz holds his ground. Inside leg kick by Diaz now. Good leg kick by Diaz. Again by Diaz. Diaz's leg kicks are all landing. Hard leg kick lands for Silva now. Diaz shoots and Anderson sprawls well. Diaz lands a good jab. Head kick just blocked by Diaz. Diaz is crazy. Silva lands a good leg kick. Total strikes even at this point. Diaz lands some good shots here, Silva looking to respond. Good kick lands by Silva. Good left hand lands by Silva. Diaz not phased. Good body kick lands by Silva. Good jab by Diaz. Diaz connecting with some good right hands, Silva looking to respond. Right hand blocked by Diaz to end the round.
AZ_RBB
Guest
This is awesome. They both look really free with their aggression and striking. 10-9 Anderson?
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
THIS IS CRAZY!! WOW! Diaz getting in his head! My score: 10-9 Diaz.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Anderson Silva vs Nick Diaz – ROUND 1/5 The first round of this fight is underway! Diaz comes out and takes centre of the cage. Diaz mouthing off to Silva early. Diaz throws a kick. Diaz taunting Silva now, incredible! Silva swings and hits him! Silva could get angry here! Diaz drops his hands and lies down! This is crazy! Diaz with his back to him now. What is happening! Diaz is crazy! Silva pushes forward and Diaz is still mouthing off to him! This is crazy. Silva throws a kick. Silva misses with a swing and they clinch. Leg kick lands for Diaz. Anderson tagged now by Diaz! Diaz landing shots. Silva with his hands down! What is happening! Inside leg kick lands for Silva. Fans chanting for both men! Both men circling. This is crazy! Diaz lands a jab. Anderson throws a knee and both men swinging, both men taunting one another. Silva has Diaz on the cage now and lands some good shots. Both men swinging. That will end round one.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
About a minute away now, as Bruce Buffer begins the introductions.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Anderson Silva has entered the octagon! This crowd is going crazy!
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Silva looks ready!
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Here comes the Spider, on his way to the octagon for the first time since breaking his leg!