Top 5 Forum Threads of the Week

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It is a fight about which everyone is talking: Former Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight titleholder Anderson Silva will return from a career-threatening leg injury to face Nick Diaz at UFC 183 on Jan. 31 in Las Vegas.

Perhaps the most dominant fighter in the history of the UFC, Silva will enter the cage on a two-fight losing streak. The 39-year-old Brazilian last fought at UFC 168 in December, when he failed in his bid to reclaim the middleweight crown from Chris Weidman. Worse yet, the rematch ended when the champion checked a kick from Silva, breaking his leg in gruesome fashion. Some wondered if “The Spider” would ever return.

Diaz also finds himself on a two-fight skid. The Cesar Gracie protégé and former Strikeforce champion last appeared at UFC 158 in March 2013, when he dropped a five-round decision to Georges St. Pierre in their clash for the welterweight title. Diaz recently agreed to a multi-fight contract to return to the UFC.

The Silva-Diaz pairing was a hot topic on the Sherdog.net forums:

* BOX OFFICE BLOCKBUSTER

* OH, THE SPECTACLE

* SHOOTING STAR

* FINISHED BUSINESS

* PENDING ANNOUNCEMENT