At the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, United States.

UFC 117 Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva will face Chael Sonnen. The winner will face Vitor Belfort in a matchup currently targeted for November.

The winner of the Nelson / dos Santos fight will challenge either Brock Lesnar or Cain Velasquez, depending on who leaves UFC 121 in October as heavyweight champion.

Light heavyweight Thiago Silva has been forced off the UFC 117 card, reportedly with a back injury, and will be replaced by Todd Brown against Tim Boetsch.

 Main card

• Middleweight Championship bout: Anderson Silva (c) vs. Chael Sonnen
• Welterweight bout: Jon Fitch vs. Thiago Alves
• Lightweight bout:  Clay Guida vs. Rafael dos Anjos
• Welterweight bout: Matt Hughes vs. Ricardo Almeida
• Heavyweight bout: Roy Nelson vs. Junior dos Santos

Preliminary card

• Welterweight bout: Dustin Hazelett vs. Rick Story
• Light Heavyweight bout: Phil Davis vs.  Rodney Wallace
• Light Heavyweight bout: Tim Boetsch vs. Todd Brown
• Welterweight bout:  Johny Hendricks vs. Charlie Brenneman
• Heavyweight bout: Stefan Struve vs. Christian Morecraft
• Welterweight bout: Ben Saunders vs. Dennis Hallman
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