Anderson Silva set for comeback vs Nick Diaz in early 2015

MANILA, Philippines – Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva will return to action as he locks horns with Nick Diaz in the main event of UFC 183 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 31, 2015.

UFC president Dana White publicly confirmed the fight booking during the broadcast of ESPN’s SportsCenter on Wednesday, July 30 (PH Time).

“The greatest of all time, Anderson Silva, is back. Also back is Nick Diaz. So we have made Anderson Silva-Nick Diaz on January 31 in Las Vegas. It will be the main event, and it will be five rounds,” White announced.

The pay-per-view event will serve as the promotion’s traditional Super Bowl weekend card.

Silva (33-6) has been sidelined since he fractured the tibia and fibula bones in his left leg during a technical knockout loss to Chris Weidman at UFC 168 in December of last year. (RELATED: Anderson Silva and other notable sports-related leg fractures)

The 6-foot 2 Brazilian, who was trying to avenge his initial setback to Weidman at UFC 162 five months earlier, suffered the injury when his rival checked a leg kick attempt in the second round of their middleweight title rematch.

“The Spider” immediately underwent emergency surgery, which involved a titanium rod being inserted into Silva’s left leg, with an estimated recovery timetable between six and nine months.

Silva received the medical clearance in advance, prompting him to accept the bout against Diaz in January.

“I think he will [be as good as he was before the injury]. He’s been training. He said his leg feels great. There were a couple of adjustments he needed to make, but other than that he feels good. He’s confident. He’s excited. He’s ready to fight, and more importantly his head is in the right place with that leg. I guess he’s been kicking a lot and he feels good,” White shared.

Silva was widely considered the greatest mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter in the world during his six-year title reign and holds the all-time UFC record for consecutive title defenses at 10.

Diaz (26-9, 1 NC) recently decided to come out of retirement, signing a three-fight contract extension with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Diaz, a former Strikeforce and World Extreme Cagefighting welterweight champion who often had a rocky relationship with the world’s premier MMA organization, has not fought since dropping a five-round verdict to Georges St-Pierre in a title tilt at UFC 158 in March 2013.

Prior to the aforementioned setback, the 30-year-old native of Stockton, California failed to capture the interim welterweight belt against Carlos Condit at UFC 143 in February 2012, but he was still able to vie for the regular world title a year later due to St-Pierre’s callout.

Diaz has exclusively competed at 170 pounds during his 13-year prizefighting career, but he made an exception when he faced Scott Smith in a 180-pound catchweight under the Strikeforce banner in June 2009.

The company’s head honcho guarantees that a decisive win over Silva would insert Diaz’s name in the mix for a middleweight title shot.

“If he comes in and beats Anderson Silva, he could fight for the title. He’s right in there. It would be a huge, huge win for him,” White revealed.

According to BestFightOdds.com, the opening line lists Silva as the -350 favorite, while Diaz acts as the +318 underdog.

In layman’s terms, a bet of $350 on Silva would net an additional $100. On the opposite end, a $100-wager on Diaz would earn $318. – Rappler.com