UFC 168: Weidman vs. Silva 2 | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Daniel Cornmeat
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Introduction
UFC 168: Weidman vs. Silva 2. December 28, 2013. MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas. The UFC’s final event of 2013 and one of its most anticipated rematches. Chris Weidman defended the UFC Middleweight Championship against Anderson Silva in a rematch of UFC 162, where Weidman had ended Silva’s 2,457-day title reign. The result of the rematch was one of the most disturbing moments in UFC history.
In round two, Anderson Silva threw a leg kick. Weidman checked it.
The co-main event saw Ronda Rousey submit Miesha Tate by armbar in the third round — the first time in Rousey’s career she had gone past round one. The event drew 15,650 fans and a gate of $6.2 million. PPV: 1,025,000 buys.
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Quick Stats
3. The Build-Up
4. Main Event
5. Co-Main Event
6. Full Results
7. Bonuses & Awards
8. Records & Milestones
9. Legacy & Impact
10. FAQ
11. References
Quick Stats
Date: December 28, 2013 (UFC’s final event of 2013)
Venue: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Attendance: 15,650; Gate: $6,200,000; PPV: 1,025,000 (largest of 2013)
Main Event: Chris Weidman (c) vs. Anderson Silva — UFC MW Championship (REMATCH of UFC 162)
Result: Weidman def. Silva — TKO (Leg Injury) — R2, 1:16; SILVA’S LEG BROKE when Weidman checked his kick; tibia and fibula snapped; first main event via injury since UFC 90
Notable: Rousey vs. Tate 2 (Sub Armbar R3; Rousey’s first fight past R1); 1,025,000 PPV; Browne TKO Barnett R1; $75k bonuses; Rousey $150k total
The Build-Up
The rematch was made immediately after UFC 162. Anderson Silva said the loss to Weidman was not a fluke. Both camps trained specifically for the rematch. The UFC’s TUF 18 season featured Rousey and Miesha Tate as opposing coaches, building toward their co-main event rematch at the same card. Cat Zingano had been set to fight Rousey but suffered a knee injury; Tate replaced her.
Main Event
Chris Weidman (c) vs. Anderson Silva — UFC MW Championship
Round one saw Anderson Silva land a knee and control some exchanges. Weidman worked to close distance and landed in guard. In round two,
Co-Main Event
Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Miesha Tate — UFC Women’s BW Championship
Rousey and Tate had spent six weeks together as TUF 18 coaches. Round one was competitive, with Tate showing improved wrestling. Rousey attempted multiple armbars across rounds one and two; Tate escaped them all. Round two ended with both still competing — the first time Rousey had completed two full rounds in her career. In round three, Rousey secured the armbar that had defined her career; Tate could not escape this time. The stoppage came at 0:58 of the third round.'),
Full Results
Preliminary Card
Michael Johnson def. Gleison Tibau — Decision — R3 — LW
John Howard def. Siyar Bahadurzada — Decision — R3 — WW
Dennis Siver vs. Manny Gamburyan — No Contest — R3 — FW; Siver won but result overturned (drug test)
Uriah Hall def. Chris Leben — TKO — R1 — MW
Main Card
Dustin Poirier def. Diego Brandão — KO — R1 — FW
Jim Miller def. Fabricio Camões — Submission — R? — LW
Travis Browne def. Josh Barnett — TKO (Elbows) — R1 — HW; Performance Night ($75k to Browne)
Ronda Rousey def. Miesha Tate — Submission (Armbar) — R3, 0:58 — Women’s BW Championship; Co-Main; FOTN ($75k each); first fight past R1 for Rousey; Rousey also earned KOTN ($75k) = $150k total
UFC MW Championship (5 rounds) — Main Event
Chris Weidman def. Anderson Silva — TKO (Leg Injury) — R2, 1:16 — first defence; SILVA’S TIBIA + FIBULA SNAPPED when Weidman checked kick
Bonuses & Awards
Fight of the Night: Ronda Rousey vs. Miesha Tate 2 — $75,000 to each fighter.
KO/Performance Night: Ronda Rousey (also POTN) + Travis Browne — $75,000 each. Rousey received $150,000 total.
Records & Milestones
Anderson Silva — first main event via injury stoppage since UFC 90 (2008); first two-fight losing streak of his professional career.
Ronda Rousey — first fight to go past round one; first fight to go three rounds; still won by first-round finish (round three armbar).
1,025,000 PPV buys — largest UFC PPV audience of 2013.
Legacy & Impact
The manner of Anderson Silva’s injury at UFC 168 removed what the rematch had promised: a definitive answer to whether Weidman’s UFC 162 win was the result of Silva’s showboating or Weidman’s legitimate superiority. The injury to Silva’s leg in round two stopped the fight before that question could be answered. Weidman kept the belt. The circumstances prevented a conclusion.
Rousey vs. Tate 2 was the fight that expanded the story of women’s MMA past the first act. Rousey had finished seven opponents in seven first-round armbar victories. Tate made it to the third round. Rousey still won by armbar. But the fight’s three rounds demonstrated that elite opponents could challenge her enough to require the full narrative of a contest rather than the opening chapter.
FAQ
What happened to Anderson Silva's leg at UFC 168?
Silva threw a left kick in round two. Weidman checked it, turning his shin to intercept the kick. The impact snapped Silva's tibia and fibula. Silva collapsed to the canvas immediately and the fight was stopped at 1:16 of round two.
Was the Silva leg break at UFC 168 the first such injury in a UFC main event?
It was the first main event stoppage via injury since UFC 90 in October 2008, when Patrick Cote suffered a knee injury while fighting Anderson Silva. The type of leg fracture suffered by Silva was similar to Corey Hill's injury in a 2008 preliminary fight.
Was UFC 168 Rousey's hardest fight?
At the time, yes. Rousey had finished seven opponents by first-round armbar. Miesha Tate reached round three, making it Rousey's longest fight. Tate escaped multiple armbar attempts in rounds one and two before Rousey secured the finish.
How many PPV buys did UFC 168 generate?
UFC 168 generated 1,025,000 PPV buys, making it the largest UFC PPV audience of 2013.
Did Anderson Silva recover from the leg break?
Yes. Silva underwent surgery on both his tibia and fibula and returned to competition approximately 13 months later. He fought Nick Diaz at UFC 183 in January 2015.
References
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