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"&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Everything you need to know about this weekend's biggest fight.\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;Overview&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chris Weidman's journey has been all uphill. Even after he reached the pinnacle of his sport, there was more climbing to do. Still is. The proving ground in mixed martial arts is a craggy, steep terrain with no resting spots, especially for this man.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;When Weidman meets Lyoto Machida in the main event of UFC 175 on Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas (10 p.m. ET, PPV), it will be the New Yorker\u2019s second defense of the middleweight championship he won almost a year earlier to the day. Yet he will walk into the cage in front of more than a few disbelieving eyes.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Last summer\u2019s victory over the indomitable Anderson Silva was a shocker, even to many of those who already saw in Weidman the ingredients of a champion. The way the fight went down, with Anderson clowning a little too much and Weidman a bundle of dead-serious aggression, coming at Silva with firm-spirited punches until he landed the one that turned out the arena lights, punctuated the encounter with as many question marks as exclamation points. Even their December rematch, which ended suddenly and sickeningly when Silva shattered his left leg on a kick, allowed for doubts to cloud some minds. Never mind that both times Weidman had been the fighter in control from the moment the two were waved together and the crowd inhaled the immensity of the moment.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;So now Weidman gets to prove himself. Again. Once and for all? Maybe.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The obstacle in his path, yet again, has a champion\u2019s pedigree. Five years ago, Machida (21-4) reigned in the light heavyweight division and was thought of as not just unbeatable but untouchable. Until \u201CThe Dragon\u201D was touched violently during a dethroning beatdown by Mauricio \u201CShogun\u201D Rua. Last fall the 36-year-old karate ace from Brazil moved to the 185-pound division, and on the strength of a pair of victories, he is No. 5 in the SI.com middleweight rankings.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Weidman, 30, is No. 1 in the weight class, of course, and No. 4 in the SI.com pound-for-pound tally. At 11-0, he\u2019s on a run of three straight finishes, the last two against perhaps the greatest fighter the sport has seen. And yet he remains in pursuit of what eludes him.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In addition to the pay-per-view telecast of the five-fight main card, four prelims will be shown on Fox Sports 1, starting at 8 p.m. ET, and the card\u2019s other two bouts will stream on the UFC Fight Pass digital subscription service (7 p.m. ET).\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;Background&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;After being dethroned at 205 pounds in May 2010, then dropping an uninspiring split decision to Quinton \u201CRampage\u201D Jackson later that year, Machida scored a spectacular front-kick KO of Randy Couture that accomplished two things: It persuaded the then-47-year-old Couture to finally call it a career and the UFC to give \u201CThe Dragon\u201D another shot at the belt. But while Machida did give Jon Jones a good fight for a round, he ended up succumbing to the sport\u2019s pound-for-pound No. 1 like everyone else has.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Machida did bounce back with a couple of victories, but his February 2013 split decision over Dan Henderson was almost unanimously derided as a borefest. So was his fight five months later with Phil Davis, which ended up as a decision loss. Machida\u2019s career needed rejuvenation.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;He\u2019s found it in the middleweight division. His debut at 185 was a second-round destruction of Mark Mu\u00F1oz last October, and he followed that up in February with a less-thrilling but nonetheless clear victory over Gegard Mousasi. Machida was moving up in the weight class, and when Vitor Belfort dropped out of this weekend\u2019s title fight -- on the same day in February when the Nevada State Athletic Commission banned testosterone replacement therapy -- Machida was given the shot at the golden ring.\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;Last five fights&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Weidman&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;12/28/13 Anderson Silva W TKO 2\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;7/6/13 Anderson Silva W KO 2\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;7/11/12 Mark Mu\u00F1oz W KO 2\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;1/28/12 Demian Maia W UD 3\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;11/19/11 Tom Lawlor W Tech. sub 1\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Machida&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;2/15/14 Gegard Mousasi W UD 5\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;10/26/13 Mark Mu\u00F1oz W KO 1\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;8/3/13 Phil Davis L UD 3\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;2/23/13 Dan Henderson W SD 3\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;8/4/12 Ryan Bader W KO 2\r\n\r\n&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t&lt;strong&gt;Tale of the Tape&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\tWeidman\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\tvs.\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\tMachida\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\tJune 17, 1984\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\tBirth Date\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\tMay 30, 1978\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\tBaldwin, N.Y.\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\tBirthplace\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\tSalvador, Brazil\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\tGarden City, N.Y.\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\tResidence\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\tLos Angeles, Calif.\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t11-0\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\tRecord\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t21-4\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t185*\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\tWeight\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t185*\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t6'2\"\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\tHeight\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t6'1\"\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t78\"\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\tReach\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t74\"\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t*Official weights announced at the weigh-in (Friday, 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1)\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;Other numbers to count on&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;68.2:&lt;/b&gt;Takedown accuracy percentage of Weidman, fourth-best all time in the UFC, according to FightMetric statistics. Machida sits No. 9, at 63.6 percent, but he\u2019ll have to contend with a champ who\u2019s never once been wrestled to the mat.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b &gt;12: &lt;/b&gt;Career knockdowns by Machida, fourth-most in UFC history.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b &gt;11:&lt;/b&gt; More than half of Machida\u2019s 21 victories have come by decision, whereas Weidman has finished more than 70 percent of his fights (five KOs, three submissions).\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b &gt;2:&lt;/b&gt; Number of fighters who have won UFC titles in two weight divisions (Randy Couture, B.J. Penn). Machida is aiming to become the third.\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;Greatest hits&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Weidman becomes champion by beating the unbeatable\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Machida is explosive in his middleweight debut\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;Matchup&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Weidman is an aggressive fighter, just the type of opponent the counterstriking Machida craves. But the champ has shown himself to be intelligent in his assault, willing to wait for his opportunity, then go for it with gusto when the opening presents itself.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A Machida fight typically is fought at the Brazilian\u2019s pace, which is to say a slow one. But the champ will be looking to ramp things up with attacks and feinted faux-attacks -- anything to force the reactionary Machida to react more than he feels comfortable doing. Machida might catch Weidman coming in, and that can be an instant game-changer, but he\u2019d better be prepared to compete from his back -- where karate won\u2019t help -- and find a way out from beneath the blanket. Otherwise, the beatdown will be brutally methodical.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For Weidman, the dance involves not standing in front of Machida yet encroaching on the challenger\u2019s space in order to make him feel threatened.\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;The odds&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Weidman is the betting favorite, with a money line of -190 (bet $100 to win $52.63). The line on Machida is +165 (bet $100 to win $165).\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;Prediction&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Machida is elusive and lethal, and Weidman will need to use caution -- just as he did two times against the equally dangerous Silva. Patience and the smarts to follow a game plan eventually will pay off for the champ. He\u2019ll find a way to get to Machida, and when he does he will prove to be the stronger and more potent fighter. &lt;i&gt;Weidman by TKO&lt;/i&gt;.\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;Must-see photo&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u200B\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;Fighting words&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u201CI can beat him 100 percent.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;--Machida, speaking about Weidman on the AXS television show&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Inside MMA&lt;/em&gt;.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u201CI\u2019m expecting a very confident Lyoto Machida, but I\u2019m going to break his will.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;--Weidman, on the &lt;em&gt;Great MMA Debate&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;podcast\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;The Tweet beat&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Join the conversation about Weidman vs. Machida on Twitter. Track the hashtags #WeidmanMachida and #UFC175 to see who\u2019s tweeting what about Saturday\u2019s fight.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@ChrisWeidmanUFC (Chris Weidman, champion)\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@raylongomma (Ray Longo, Weidman\u2019s head trainer)\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@lyotomachidafw (Lyoto Machida, challenger)\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@BlackHouseMMA (Black House, Machida\u2019s training gym)\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@ufc (Ultimate Fighting Championship)\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@danawhite (UFC president Dana White)\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@jeffwagenheim (SI.com\u2019s Jeff Wagenheim)\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@lorettahuntmma (SI.com\u2019s Loretta Hunt)\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@chuckmindenhall (Chuck Mindenhall, MMAfighting.com writer)\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@arielhelwani (Ariel Helwani, Fox Sports 1/MMAfighting.com interviewer)\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@LukeThomasMMA (Luke Thomas, MMAfighting.com writer)\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@MikeChiappetta (Mike Chiappetta, FoxSports.com MMA writer)\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@benfowlkesMMA (Ben Fowlkes, USA Today/MMAjunkie.com writer)\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@kevini (Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports MMA/boxing writer)\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@bokamotoESPN (Brett Okamoto, ESPN.com MMA writer)\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@davedoylemma (Dave Doyle, MMAfighting.com writer)\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@MMAjunkieJohn (John Morgan, USA Today/MMAjunkie.com writer)\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;The rest of the card&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ronda Rousey (champion) vs. Alexis Davis, women\u2019s bantamweight\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Stefan Struve vs. Matt Mitrione, heavyweight\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Urijah Hall vs. Thiago Santos, middleweight\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Marcus Brimage vs. Russell Doane, bantamweight\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Preliminary card (8 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1): Urijah Faber vs. Alex Caceres, bantamweight; Kenny Robertson vs. Ildemar Alcantara, welterweight; Chris Camozzi vs. Bruno Santos, middleweight; George Roop vs. Rob Font, bantamweight.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Online prelims (7 p.m. ET, UFC Fight Pass): Luke Zachrich vs. Guilherme Vasconcelos, middleweight; Kevin Casey vs. Bubba Bush, middleweight.\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;Programming notes&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mike Goldberg will handle blow-by-blow and Joe Rogan analysis for the main-card telecast on pay-per-view as well as prelims on Fox Sports 1 and the UFC Fight Pass. An hour-long postfight show begins at 1:30 a.m. ET on Fox Sports 1.\r\n&lt;/p&gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.si.com/mma/2014/07/01/ufc-175-crash-course-chris-weidman-lyoto-machida>