Following injuries to Jose Aldo and Quinton Jackson, UFC 153 looked like it could join UFC 151 as the only events to ever be cancelled in UFC history.
However, middleweight champion Anderson Silva decided to step up and take a light heavyweight bout with Stephan Bonnar. That matchup, and the addition of a bout between Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Dave Herman, would help save UFC 153 from cancellation.
Even with some mismatched main card fights, UFC 153 produced several entertaining moments and proved to be an event worth keeping.
Still, Saturday night in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was not without flaws. The fight card saw a number of premature stand-ups and a controversial decision that led to Reza Madadi’s first loss inside the Octagon.
Every UFC event has its high and low points. These are the best and worst from the entire UFC 153 fight card.