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UFC 128: SHOGUN VS. JONES PRELIMINARY CARD PREVIEW

Possibly the best card of 2011 takes place this Saturday Night as the UFC presents UFC 128: Shogun vs. Jones on pay-per-view. While the pay-per-view card will feature a huge UFC Light Heavyweight Title fight, the preliminary card features good action as well. This UFC 128 preliminary card will feature a former WEC Bantamweight Title contender and a top notch submission expert.

The action will be kicking off with a catchweight encounter as Nick “The Jersey Devil” Catone (8-2-0) faces Constantinos Philippou (7-1-0). It has been a little more than a year since Nick Catone has competed in an MMA fight, but his last fight was a win over Jesse Forbes. Constantinos Philippou will be making his UFC debut as a late replacement for Dan Miller, who was moved up to the main card. The lack of preparation is going to hurt Constantinos Philippou as Nick Catone will get the victory here.

A pair of featherweights will do battle next as Raphael Assuncao (16-3-0) will do battle with Erik “New Breed” Koch (11-1-0). Raphael Assuncao won three of five in the WEC promotion, but now makes his official debut in the UFC. Erik Koch will also be making his UFC debut in this fight, coming off a victory over UFC veteran Francisco Rivera. This fight is going to be a close one, but I see the superior wrestling of Raphael Assuncao earning the fighter a victory.

Headlining the preliminary card will be a bantamweight encounter as Joseph Benavidez (13-2-0) takes on Ian “The Barn Owl” Loveland (14-7-0). Joseph Benavidez challenged for the WEC Bantamweight Title in 2010, losing to current champion Dominick Cruz. Ian Loveland is currently undefeated in UFC competition, with a victory over Tyler Toner at the UFC Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale. The shocking this is this fight will not be televised, but Joseph Benavidez will earn the win in his UFC debut.

You can contact David Tees at bigteesps3@yahoo.com

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