UFC 168: What happened when Ronda Rousey faced Miesha Tate?

UFC 168 took place on December 28, 2013 and the most anticipated fight on the show was the re-match between Bantamweight Champion, Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate.

The pair had clashed before in Strikeforce in March 2012, wherein Rousey had won decisively with a first round armbar. Since that defeat, Tate had won one and lost one of her two UFC bouts and was given the shot due to an injury to Cat Zingano.

However, Tate did herself proud in Rousey's most competitive bout to date. In fact this three round fight was the longest of Rousey's 14 fight career.

Both women came out swinging immediately as both ate some big time strikes from the other. They landed some huge punches and knees and there were excellent takedowns, reversals and ground and pound. Rousey attempted an armbar deep in the second round but Tate showed immense toughness to withstand it and survive to a third.

That round did not last long however as a grappling exchange saw both women fall with Tate landing on top of Rousey.

Before Tate could take advantage of the position, Rousey floated over into position for the match winning armbar. Tate tapped out and that was the end of a fantastic fight.

To add even more spice to the heated affair, Rousey refused a handshake from Tate post-fight garnering the champion a chorus of boos from the Las Vegas crowd.

Ronda Rousey defeated MiesTate once again at UFC 168

In the headliner, Chris Weidman defended his Middleweight Championship against the man he won it from at UFC 162, five months earlier, Anderson Silva.

In an even more brutal finish than the first fight, Weidman blocked a leg kick from Silva which broke the "Spider's" leg. Silva stayed down on the mat in obvious agony in brutally disturbing scenes. However, prior to that shocking finish, Weidman had dominated the former champion with a superb striking game. He was a deserved winner. It would be over a year before Silva could return.

Chris Weidman did for Anderson Silva once again at UFC 168

Ronda Rousey's future husband, Travis Browne destroyed former Heavyweight Champion, Josh Barnett in just one minute. Barnett was looking to build upon his victory over another former Heavyweight Champion, Frank Mir at UFC 164 but it was not meant to be. A flurry of elbows from Browne in almost a carbon copy of the way he defeated former Heavyweight contender, Gabriel Gonzaga knocked the massive Barnett out. This set up a date with Fabricio Werdum with Heavyweight title implications.

Jim Miller beat Fabricio Camoes in double quick time. Miller and Camoes started exchanging blows from the get go with both fighters landing some good shots. After a scramble, Camoes managed to secure the mount and worked over Miller with punches. However, Miller showed great presence of mind to manoeuvre Camoes into position for an armbar for the submission win. Brilliant end to an entertaining sprint of a fight.

Dustin Poirier defeated Diego Brandao in a hugely entertaining opener. Brandao began the bout as the aggressor but when he slowed Poirier took full advantage with a brutal combination of body punches and a huge takedown and another combination before the referee waved off the fight. Terrific performance from Poirier and a setback for Brandao.

The card was a monstrous financial success with 1.1 million viewers ordering the event on pay per view.