Okami defeated Silva by disqualification under the Rumble on the Rock banner in January 2006. An illegal upkick from the Brazilian was the culprit.
Silva (28-4, 13-0 UFC) will carry a 14-fight winning streak into the match. The 36-year-old last appeared at UFC 126 in February, when he knocked out Vitor Belfort with a highlight-reel front kick at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and lethal standup fighter, Silva has secured 21 of his 28 career victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission. Wins over former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin (twice), 2007 Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships gold medalist Demian Maia, one-time UFC light heavyweight titleholder Forrest Griffin, current Strikeforce light heavyweight boss Dan Henderson and former middleweight King of Pancrase Nate Marquardt anchor his stellar resume. Silva has held the UFC middleweight belt for nearly five years.
A brutish and durable middleweight, Okami (26-5, 10-2 UFC) has not been finished in almost eight years. The 29-year-old judo black belt last fought at UFC 122 in November, when he ran his current winning streak to three and outpointed Marquardt in a unanimous decision victory at the Konig Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, Germany. Okami owns notable wins over 2001 NCAA wrestling champion Mark Munoz, American Kickboxing Academy standout Mike Swick, Roufusport representative Alan Belcher and the late Evan Tanner.
UFC 134 will also play host to a lightweight duel pitting “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 9 winner Ross Pearson against the undefeated Edson Mendes Barboza Jr. (Pictured), a light heavyweight tilt pairing a resurgent Luiz Cane against unbeaten Bulgarian Stanislav Nedkov and a middleweight battle matching Maiquel Jose Falcao Goncalves with Tom Lawlor.
Anderson
Silva vs. Yushin
Okami
Ross
Pearson vs. Edson
Mendes Barboza Jr.
Luiz
Cane vs. Stanislav
Nedkov
Maiquel Falcao vs. Tom
Lawlor
* Mauricio
“Shogun” Rua vs. Forrest
Griffin
* Thiago
Tavares vs. Spencer
Fisher
* Paulo
Thiago vs. David
Mitchell
* Yuri
Alcantara vs. Mackens
Semerzier
* Rousimar
Palhares vs. Alexandre
Ferreira
* Not Official
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