Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
This coming weekend will feature the Ultimate Fighting Championships long awaited debut in the nation of China. The promotions enters this new country with a solid main event featuring Rich Franklin and Cung Le in a middleweight battle. Also, Thiago Silva looks to return to his winning ways and a pair of welterweights are looking to return to form.
Kicking off the action is a bantamweight division fight as Jeff “Hellbound†Hougland (10-5-0) does battle with Takeya Mizugaki (15-7-0). Jeff Hougland will be looking to rebound from his first UFC defeat, which came to Yves Jabouin at UFC On Fuel TV III. Takeya Mizugaki has rotated wins and losses throughout his UFC career, with his last fight being a loss to Chris Cariaso. This is a battle to remain relevant in the UFC for both fighters, but it will be Jeff Hougland remaining relevant in the end.
Lightweights will be stepping into the cage next as Jon “Super Saiyan†Tuck (6-0-0) competes against Tiequan “The Mongolian Wolf†Zhang (15-3-0). Jon Tuck is an undefeated fighter who has spent the majority of his career in the Pacific Xtreme Combat promotion. Tiequan Zhang enters the fight riding a two fight losing streak and he has not achieved a victory in well over a year. Jon Tuck is clearly a fighter on the rise and he will show why with a victory over Tiequan Zhang on Saturday Morning.
Another lightweight division fight is set as Mac Danzig (21-9-0) is in action against “The Fireball Kid†Takanori Gomi (33-8-0). Mac Danzig has won two of his last three fight, most notably defeating Joe Stevenson back at UFC 124. Takanori Gomi has only won two of five in UFC competition and is coming off of a victory over Eiji Mitsuoka. This is a must win fight for both fighters, but it will be Mac Danzig getting the much needed victory in this one.
A pair of welterweights will compete next as Dong Hyun “Stun Gun†Kim (15-2-0) faces Paulo Thiago (14-4-0). Dong Hyun Kim has only won one of his last three, with that lone victory coming over Sean Pierson at UFC 141. Paulo Thiago has only won one of his last four entering this fight and could very well be competing to keep his job. These two welterweights were once near the top of the division and it will be Dong Hyun Kim returning there with a big victory.
Up next is a light heavyweight division fight as Stanislav Nedkov (12-0-0) stands across the cage from Thiago Silva (14-3-0). Stanislav Nedkov is currently undefeated in UFC competition, having defeated Luiz Cane back at UFC 134. Thiago Silva enters the fight riding a two fight losing streak and he has not achieved a victory in over three years. This fight is the biggest test in Stanislav Nedkov’s career and it will be a test that the undefeated fighter passes.
Headlining this card is a middleweight division fight as Rich “Ace†Franklin (29-6-0) battles Cung Le (8-2-0). Rich Franklin is returning to the middleweight division for the first time in three years, since a UFC 109 loss to Vitor Belfort. Cung Le is looking to continue the momentum of his first UFC victory, which came over Patrick Cote at UFC 148. These are two of the better strikers in the middleweight division, but it will be Rich Franklin making a successful return to the division.
Follow me on Twitter @DaveTeesMMA
Contact me at bigteesps3@yahoo.com
