Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Venue: Bell Centre (Le Centre Bell)
When: Saturday, April 18
Time: 7pm PT | 10pm ET
Broadcast: Pay-Per-View

Pound for Pound king Anderson “The Spider” Silva (23-4) will be defending his UFC middleweight championship for the fifth time against the number one contender Thales Leites (14-1). The Spider is coming off a TKO win due to injury over Patrick Cote at UFC 90,

Thales Leites is fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Leites (14-1) a jiu-jitsu specialist is coming off a win over Drew McFedries via rear naked choke at UFC 90. Leites is on a five fight win streak and will look to give Silva a true test, something few fighters as of late have provided.

Leites recently made headlines with a controversial split decision win over perennial contender, Nathan Marquardt, at UFC 85: “Bedlam” back in June. His only career loss is to Martin Kampmann in his promotional debut way back in 2006. He’s going to have to find a way to pull off what seems to be an impossible mission in overcoming the champ.

But while he is an underdog, if Leites can take the fight to the ground, he’s got a shot. Leites has tremendous Brazilian jiu jitsu skills and can at least give Silva something he hasn’t gotten in his last two fights: a challenge.

Another Exciting UFC 97 matchup will include, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua Vs. former light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell. The two were originally scheduled to meet at UFC 85 in June 2008 but Rua had to pull out due to a leg injury.

The bout will be Liddell's first since a devastating knockout loss to Rashad Evans in September 2008. The former champion has gone just 1-3 in his past four bouts, including losses to Evans, Keith Jardine and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.

Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (17-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) earned a measure of revenge over former UFC heavyweight champion Mark Coleman at UFC 93, and now will turn his sights to an April bout with former UFC light-heavyweight champ Chuck Liddell (21-6 MMA, 17-5 UFC).

Shogun is coming off of a hard fought victory over Mark Coleman at UFC 93. The Iceman was knocked out brutally by Rashad Evans in his most recent fight at UFC 88. Still, don't be surprised if Liddell pulls out a victory here. Rua hasn't looked the same since injuries started piling up on him, and Liddell still has TNT in both fists.

Heavyweights Cheick Kongo (13-4-1) and Antoni Hardonk (8–4) who are each enjoying current win streaks inside the Octagon, are set to collide at UFC 97.

Kongo recently dismantled Mustapha al Turk at UFC 92: “The Ultimate 2008” in December 2008, unleashing a vicious onslaught of elbows and punches on the Cage Rage veteran that resulted in a first round technical knockout stoppage.

It marked the fourth win in the last five fights for the Parisian. He dropped a split decision to Heath Herring at UFC 82: “Pride of a Champion” back in March 2008, which temporarily derailed his chances of competing for a division title.

Kongo, who now trains at Wolfslair Academy in England alongside Michael Bisping, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and others, will look to get right back in the mix with a win over the Dutch kickboxer.

Hardonk is the winner of three straight, taking our Mike Wessel via second round technical knockout at UFC 92. Prior to the win, he notched impressive back-to-back victories over Eddie Sanchez and Colin Robinson.

He has not lost a bout since late 2007, a submission courtesy of interim heavyweight champion Frank Mir.

Main Card (TELEVISED)

* Anderson Silva vs. Thales Leites (Middleweight Title Fight)
* Chuck Liddell vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
* Luis Cane vs. Steve Cantwell
* Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Brian Stann
* Cheick Kongo vs. Antoni Hardonk

Preliminary Card (UN-TELEVISED)

* Ed Herman vs. David Loiseau
* Jason MacDonald vs. Nate Quarry
* Denis Kang vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam
* Sam Stout vs. Matt Wiman
* David Bielkheden vs. Mark Bocek
* T.J. Grant vs. Ryo Chonan

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