Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
The Ultimate Fighting Championships is returning to Brazil this coming Saturday with a card being headlined by Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Fabricio Werdum. While there are six fights in total on the main card, the preliminary card has even more, seven fights in total. The loaded preliminary card will feature big fights in both the bantamweight division and the middleweight division.
Kicking off the action is a middleweight division fight as Antonio Braga Neto (8-1-0-1NC) competes against Anthony “Lionheart†Smith (17-9-0). Neto will be making his UFC debut in this fight, but he does hold a decision victory over UFC veteran Cezar Ferreira. Smith will also be making his UFC debut in this fight, but he did with two of four fights in the Strikeforce promotion. This is a big opportunity for both fighters in their UFC debuts, but it will be Smith walking away with the victory.
More middleweight action will be happening next as Caio “Hellboy†Magalhaes (5-1-0) does battle with Karlos “The Terminator†Vemola (9-3-0). Magalhaes is currently winless in UFC competition, suffering a defeat to Buddy Roberts at UFC On FX III. Vemola has rotated wins and losses throughout his UFC career, with his last fight being a loss to Francis Carmont at UFC On Fuel TV IV. Magalhaes did not look very good in his first UFC bout and Vemola will make him look even worse as he picks up the win.
Featherweight action will be on the card next as Rodrigo Damm (10-6-0) is in action against Mizuto “Pugnus†Hirota (14-6-0-1NC). Damm has split both of his fights under the UFC banner, defeating Anistavio Figueireido and suffering a defeat to Antonio Carvalho. Hirota is currently winless under the UFC banner, having suffered a defeat to Rani Yahya at UFC On Fuel TV VIII. This is a must win fight for both competitors, but it will be Hirota picking up the first victory in the UFC.
We move to the welterweight division for the next fight as Ildemar “Marajo†Alcantara (18-5-0) will be in the octagon against Leandro “Batata†Silva (18-7-0). Alcantara is currently undefeated in UFC competition, having defeated Wagner Prado at UFC On FX VII. Silva will be making his UFC debut in this fight, but he has competed before against UFC veteran Siyar Bahadurzada. Alcantara looked great in his UFC debut, despite competing as a middleweight, and he will remain undefeated in the UFC when it’s all said and done.
Another featherweight division fight is up next as Felipe “Sartanejo†Arantas (14-4-1-2NC) battles Godofredo “Pepey†Castro (9-1-0). Arantas has had an interesting run thus far in his three fight UFC career, with a fight going to a draw, a fight being a loss and a fight being a win. Castro has split both of his fights in the UFC, defeating Milton Viera and suffering a defeat to Rony Bezzera. These are two fighters who are in need of a big UFC win, but it will be Castro getting that big victory.
Up next is a middleweight division fight as Derek Brunson (10-2-0) stands across the octagon from Ronny Markes (14-1-0). Brunson is currently undefeated in UFC competition, having defeated Chris Leben by decision at UFC 155. Markes is also undefeated in UFC competition, with his victories coming over Karlos Vemola, Aaron Simpson and Andrew Craig. These are two fighters who like to do the majority of their work on the ground, but it will be Markes remaining undefeated in UFC competition.
Headlining this portion of the card is a bantamweight division fight as Raphael Assuncao (19-4-0) faces Vaughan Lee (13-8-1). Assuncao will enter the fight riding a three fight winning streak, most notably defeating Mike Easton at UFC On Fox V. Lee has rotated wins and losses throughout his UFC run, with his last fight being a win over Motonobu Tezuka at UFC On Fuel TV VII. Assuncao could be a victory or two away from a bantamweight title fight and it will be a fourth straight victory for the Brazilian fighter.
Follow me on Twitter @DaveTeesMMA
Contact me at bigteesps3@yahoo.com
