FIGHT PARTY LOCATIONS FOR UFC 153

Red Rock Casino Resort Spa – Rocks Lounge, $10 Cover – HD

• Doors open at 5pm – 11011 West Charleston Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada 89135 – 1(866) 767-7773

Aliante Station Casino + Hotel – Access Showroom, $10 Cover – HD

• Doors open at 5pm – 7300 Aliante Parkway, North Las Vegas, NV 89084 – 1-877-477-SOAR (7627)

Santa Fe Station – Chrome Showroom, $10 Cover

• Doors open at 5:30 pm – 4949 N Rancho Dr Las Vegas, NV 89130 – (702) 658-4900

Fiesta Henderson  – Cancun Rooms – $10 Cover

• Doors Open at 6pm – 777 W. Lake Mead Pkwy,  Henderson, NV 89015 – (702) 558-7000

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Stephan Bonnar is in for the fight of his life. At least the odds-makers see it that way. Bonnar is unanimously an 8-1 underdog (or worse) across the board 4 days out from his date with the Spider. Anderson Silva is largely recognized not only as the best in the sport, but the best of all time, with the only serious contender for that title being the still improving Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones. Due to the length of Silva’s current winning streak (currently undefeated in his last 15 bouts) the nod has to go to the veteran Silva.

So does that mean we’re in for a snoozer? By no means… It is after all Anderson Silva on the World’s biggest MMA stage (UFC), in the heart of the most fight crazy culture on Planet Earth: Brazil. We ended up with this main event (despite Silva’s title at Middleweight, this one is a non-championship 3- rounder) after another Champion set to defend his title (Jose Aldo) had his fight cancelled. In case you’ve been exploring the Amazon and haven’t tuned in to the MMA world for a while, there’s been quite a rash of such cases, where either the Champ or the top challenger is forced out due to injury. But don’t expect the crowd in Rio de Janeiro to be any less rambunctious with the replacement fight. Silva is just short of God-like status in his home country.

For his part Stephan Bonnar professes to enjoy the underdog status bestowed upon him by virtually every living breathing human than has ever heard of the sport of MMA, but stepping in as the 8-1 undie, and with Silva supporters unable to bet on him without risking $120 to win $10, Bonnar is more of an ‘under-mutt’ than dog. But some buzz is beginning to bubble for Bonnar, maybe not so much with believers coming to his side of the book, but at a number of veteran MMA watchers that can’t resist the opportunity to win big on a long shot. This is clearly the ‘longest shot’ for a UFC Main Event participant in ages.

Don’t count Bonnar out altogether. After all Dana White and Zuffa openly credit the success of The Ultimate Fighter Season 1, and particularly the finale between Bonnar and Forrest Griffin as having turbo-boosted the entire organization through it’s most difficult time. That boost was injected by a finale that stands to this day (7 years later) as very possibly the most exciting fight in UFC history. While Bonnar has not quite reached the heights that Forrest has post TUF (as an ex Light Heavyweight Champ), but Bonnar on his game, is still no slouch. He has some notable wins under his belt, a solid chin and a great ground game.

In other words, don’t count Stephan Bonnar out altogether. If there is a ‘Rocky’ figure fighting this Saturday, it’s Bonnar. And he’s got plenty of motivation. For his own safety UFC honcho Dana White has reportedly offered the use of his private jet for Bonnar to skedaddle out of Rio should the unthinkable happen….  a win by Bonnar would be nothing short of  a seismic event in Brazil. This is more of a safety precaution from White’s perspective (Bonnar would not be treated to Roses like a Belmont Stakes winner were he to pull off a miracle). For Bonnar, the potential ‘Rock Star’ exit, leaving Brazil (on the company Jet!) after beating the man who has not lost in 15 fights and who is widely considered the best in the game …. to say the least, it’s a carrot for Bonnar’s horse.

Fan favorites like Antonio Nogueira and Dave Herman, some former and current contenders in Demian Maia and Jon Fitch, and some up and coming world beaters like Diego Brandao and Glover Teixeira, all make appearances on the undercard. This makes for a really solid night of fights overall. Where will you be watching UFC 153?

View the FULL FIGHT CARD for UFC 153