UFC 175 has been in the spotlight for months but for all the wrong reasons.
Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva were scheduled to meet in an anticipated grudge match on the July 5 Las Vegas card, but it never came to fruition and the storylines stemming from Sonnen’s and Silva’s failed/refused drug tests overshadowed the main and co-main events.
Now, thankfully, fans can focus on two great championship matchups instead, as Americans Chris Weidman and Ronda Rousey look to defend their UFC titles from Brazilian Lyoto Machida and Canadian Alexis Davis, respectively.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Watch UFC 175 prelims Saturday at 8 p.m. EST on Sportsnet 360 and watch the entire live TUF 19 Finale Sunday starting at 7 p.m. EST on Sportsnet 360.
Countdown to UFC 175: Weidman vs Machida
Machida (21-4) is a former light-heavyweight champ who’s 2-0 since dropping to the middleweight division last year. The 36-year-old defeated Gegard Mousasi by unanimous decision on Feb. 15 in the main event of UFC Fight Night 36 and finishing Mark Munoz last October in his 185-pound debut.
Weidman (11-0) is a perfect 7-0 in the UFC and coming off back-to-back wins over Anderson Silva. The 29-year-old Baldwin, N.Y., native also has wins over notable UFC stars Demian Maia, Uriah Hall and Munoz since making his MMA debut in 2009.
Countdown to UFC 175: Rousey vs Davis
Rousey and Davis are the only members of the women’s bantamweight division currently 3-0 in the UFC.
Port Colborne, Ont.’s Davis (16-5) is on a five-fight win streak including UFC victories over Rosi Sexton, Liz Carmouche and Jessica Eye. If she wins, Davis would join Georges St-Pierre and Carlos Newton as the third ever Canadian UFC champion.
Rousey (9-0) is coming off the first TKO win of her career when she stopped Sara McMann with a knee to the body just 66 seconds into the first round of the UFC 170 main event in February. Prior to that fight, all of Rousey’s wins had come by her signature armbar maneuver.
