Since the UFC’s first outing in Brazil under the Zuffa banner in August of last year, the promoters have fallen in love with the place.
This Saturday, UFC 153 will mark Zuffa‘s third pay-per-view event in the country in 2012 alone, and the second time visiting the HSBC arena in Rio De Janeiro, when Jose Aldo and Anderson Silva inspired a wave of MMA fanaticism in this otherwise soccer-mad country.
And, despite all the injuries that are now de rigueur for any UFC event, it’s an electrifying card throughout.
That might be hard to swallow considering the main event. The fight between Anderson Silva and Stephan Bonnar, seems like little more than an exhibition match—a three-rounder with nothing at stake.
But the card is replete with Brazilian talent, some old, some new, and intriguing matchups from the bottom to the top.
Here’s a fan’s guide to the entire card.