The UFC returns to Las Vegas tonight as long reigning middleweight champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva squares off against the highly touted and undefeated Chris Weidman at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Start time for tonight’s event is set for 10:00pm ET; the main card can be seen live on Pay-Per-View. UFC 162 Fight Predictions and Odds have Silva listed as a -275 money line favorite ($275 wins $100) to successfully defend his belt. Weidman is drawing a +215 line at Sportsbook.ag to take Silva’s title and become the first man to defeat “The Spider” inside the Octagon.

While Chris Weidman has received a truck load of much deserved praise heading into tonight’s championship meeting with Anderson Silva, it is really the champ who should be getting most of the attention. The fascination with Weidman makes sense, though, as fans, pundits, and bettors are eager to find the man who can end Silva’s dominance over the middleweight division.

Weidman is viewed by many as the man for the job, despite his relative lack of experience. He is a strong stand up fighter, owning three KO/TKO victories and he is also a decorated wrestler with an affinity for jiu-jitsu. And the proof, as they say, is in the pudding. Weidman owns a takedown accuracy percentage of 78-percent and three of his nine career wins have come by way of submission.

In other words, Weidman is a physically gifted, mentally strong fighter with few holes in his game. He has exploited opponents standing up and on the ground and he possesses the ability to dictate where he wants the fight to take place.

Enter Anderson Silva. Silva is a counter fighter extraordinaire who features ridiculously accurate striking (67-percent over 37 career fights --- Weidman 43-percent by comparison), strong takedown defense (70-percent), and an ability to finish fights, perhaps, like no other (only two of his 16 UFC wins came by decision).  

Silva has successfully defended his belt 10 times and he has done so against a host of decorated fighters, including Rich Franklin, Nate Marquardt, Dan Henderson, Vitor Belfort, Yushin Okami, and Chael Sonnen.

The hype surrounding Weidman is justified; he has a bright future ahead of him and the potential to be a champion. However, until Silva shows signs that age is catching up to him, there is really no reason to fade such a gifted fighter/champion.

UFC 162 Fight Predictions: Silva -275, Edgar -600, Swanson -250, Boetsch -120, Gracie +110, Herman +190, Pierce -600.

UFC 162 Silva vs Weidman Fight Predictions, Odds and Start Time:

Anderson Silva -275 vs Chris Weidman +215 (Main Event)
Frankie Edgar -600 vs Charles Oliveira +400 (Main Card)
Tim Kennedy -140 vs Roger Gracie +110 (Main Card)
Cub Swanson -250 vs Dennis Siver +190 (Main Card)
Tim Boetsch -120 vs Mark Munoz -110 (Main Card)
Chris Leben +115 vs Andrew Craig -145 (FX Network)
Norman Parke -185 vs Kazuki Tokudome +155 (FX Network)
Gabriel Gonzaga -250 vs Dave Herman +190 (FX Network)
Edson Barboza -600 vs Rafaello Oliveira +400 (FX Network)
Mike Pierce -600 vs David Mitchell +400 (Facebook)
Seth Baczynski -370 vs Brian Melancon +280 (Facebook)

UFC Free Picks: UFC 162
What UFC bettors need to know about betting UFC 162 on Saturday (7/06/13) -- Two free picks from Pregame.com's Vegas Runner, with host Steve Fezzik.