With a deal inked last year, the UFC and the FOX network have been saturating the market with mixed martial arts events. Not all of them are worth your time. One thing holds certain though, and it is that UFC matchmaker Joe Silva typically always delivers the goods when it comes to their pay per view events.

Nowadays, the UFC can be seen on network television (FOX), basic cable (FX), premium cable (FUEL TV) as well as their vaunted pay-per-view events. What is important to remember for MMA fans is that the sport is finally in the mainstream. Too much UFC is better than no UFC, so seeing all of these events is a fantastic development for the sport. While most of the events on standard television may have good fights, the cards from top to bottom are generally lacking.

It makes enough sense. Why would the UFC put their moneymakers on television for free when they can make people pay to watch them? On that note, let's take a look forward to the next five UFC pay per view events and rank them accordingly.

5. UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans

 

The main event to this card should be spectacular as the grudge match between the arguably top two light heavyweights in the sport finally takes place. The fight should live up to its billing as former training partners and friends turned bitter enemies Jon Jones and Rashad Evans square off in the octagon after almost two years of waiting and postponements.

Outside of the main event, there are no draws to make people want to watch. This was a rescheduled event from March and the UFC is surely hoping the top billing will carry its pay-per-view sales.

4. ufc 149

 

Surely, this card will fill out, and hopefully it does so with some better fights. Again, the top billing is UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo defending his championship against an opponent to be named. Perhaps a top opponent could make this card worth the viewing, but considering featherweights are new to the UFC brand, this may be a hard sell to fans across the world. Thiago Alves is always a pleasure and exciting to watch, but he is not a top bill fighter by any stretch.

3. ufc 148

 

This is where the events start becoming watchable as the two coaches from the newest season of The Ultimate Fighter, Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz, meet for their third time and second in the UFC. "The California Kid" Faber is one of the more popular imports into the UFC and their first two fights have been highly contested.

Also on the card, however, is a retirement bout for Tito Ortiz against fan favorite Forrest Griffin. There is a legitimate chance this may be the last time for both men in the UFC and in the octagon, as Ortiz has already announced his retirement following this bout. A slugfest sure would be a lasting memory for UFC fans.

Also filling out an impressive card is the most hated man in the UFC, Michael Bisping, coming off a loss, as well as capable middleweights Rich Franklin and Cung Le.

2. ufc 146: The heavyweights

 

In a novel move, the UFC has made a pay-per-view event with all main card matches featuring heavyweight fighters. Not only that, but impressive heavyweights at that. There is a bout for the heavyweight championship as well as one for the number one contender position for that same championship as well as two of the biggest men in the sport.

The only potential wrinkle to this may come with the Alistair Overeem and Junior dos Santos main event as Overeem tested positive for elevated testosterone at a surprise drug test earlier this month. His hearing to fight is scheduled for April 24. If he is suspended (as expected), the UFC will have to call in a replacement fighter on short notice.

The most intriguing bout is Roy "Big Country" Nelson facing off against Antonio "Big Foot" Silva. Nelson is known for his trademark mullet, massive overhanging belly and ability to take crushing punches to the chin.

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That kind of athletic specimen cannot be faked...sadly.

Silva is known for his imposing size and freakish athletic ability. This card will surely be one of the most entertaining of the year.

1. ufc 147

 

The main event alone will be worth the price of admission for this event as the long awaited rematch between pound-for-pound king of the sport Anderson Silva finally returns to the sport following a long layoff against the best trash talker in the game, Chael Sonnen. The two fought once, with Sonnen seemingly piercing the impenetrable Silva for nearly the full fight. One mistake late in the final round resulted in Silva coming back for a choke out to win the fight and maintain his championship.

Following a suspension to Sonnen for steroids and surgery for Silva, the two will meet in Silva's native Brazil in front of a surely raucous crowd in one of the most hotly anticipated rematches in years.

If that isn't enough, a bout between legends of the sport Vitor Belfort and Brazilian Wanderlei Silva has been announced on the same card. Both are known to create fan pleasing fights and this late in both of their careers, there is no reason to doubt this won't be another.

 

So there you have it, fight fans! A glance at the next few months in UFC pay-per-view events! Anything you'd change or another event you're more looking forward to? Sound off in the comments below!

 

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