With several factors -- mainly the injury bug -- derailing UFC fight cards, nothing is what it seems in the world of mixed martial arts these days. UFC 146 featured a completely different main card than was originally expected and the same can be said of UFC 147 and its top two fights. The UFC didn't announce many fights for the event, and seemed to be banking on the big Brazilian names to draw in pay-per-view buys. Whether the changes bomb or strike gold remains to be seen, but how does the original main event at UFC 147 stack up against the current card from a fan's perspective?
Original Main Event: Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen for UFC Middleweight title
Current Main Event: Wanderlei Silva vs. Rich Franklin
The first fight between Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva was a five-round war at UFC 117. (UFC)
In Brazil, the fight between Silva and Sonnen could have been the biggest fight in the history of the country. The Brazilian people hate Sonnen and he appears to feel the same way towards them, disrespecting the nation in the buildup to his first showdown with Silva. He continued to make it personal in the build-up to the highly anticipated rematch, going so far as to mock Silva and the Brazilian people in a press conference in Brazil.
With this as the main event, the promotion wouldn't have needed to have any other big-name fighters on the card. At this point in the feud, a person is either a fan of Silva and wants to see him shut Sonnen's mouth, or a fan of Sonnen and wants him to end the pound-for-pound reign of Silva.
The Brazilian people still love "The Axe Murderer," but a rematch with Franklin isn't exactly the headliner the fans in the United States are willing to pay for. Franklin is being the ultimate company man in taking this fight on short notice after Vitor Belfort was injured, but it may be a difficult task to get the fans to care.
Original Co-Main Event: Vitor Belfort vs. Wanderlei Silva
Current Co-Main Event: Fabricio Werdum vs. Mike Russow
The fight between the two Brazilian legends could have been a big seller as the main event without the Sonnen-Silva fight, but an injury to Belfort ruined those plans. The two men were coaching on 'The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil' and much like we have seen with countless other coaches fights from TUF, it won't be until a later date where they can settle their feud inside the Octagon. While Werdum is another popular Brazilian, a fight against Russow doesn't pique as much interest as the fight they are replacing.
More from this contributor:
UFC 147: A Struggle for Success
How Good will Hector Lombard be in UFC?
Kenny Florian Announces Retirement from MMA
Complete List of "The Ultimate Fighter" Winners
Top Fighters that Didn't Win TUF
Hobson Lopes has been a fan of mixed martial arts since the days of Tank Abbott and can be followed on Twitter @HobsonLopes.
For a look at the best fights for some of the most popular fighters in the UFC and 2011 division recaps, go here.
