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David Becker/Associated Press

UFC 175 will play host to the first UFC Middleweight Championship bout not featuring Anderson Silva since 2006.

Champion Chris Weidman will defend the gold against Silva's teammate Lyoto Machida in the five-round main event on July 4th weekend. Insert fireworks pun here.

Weidman has shocked the world twice by beating Silva, and now he seeks new challenges as he makes his mark as world champion. Machida has dropped to 185 pounds, looking spectacular in his two bouts at the weight.

The championship match will be highly anticipated, and the UFC has a fight that it can market well. Machida vs. Weidman is the kind of fight that fans are clamoring for in 2014. It features two high-level athletes who can make for an exciting championship scrap.

Here is an early look into the championship matchup featuring Machida and Weidman.