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It is the fourth of July weekend and that usually means one thing for MMA fans, the UFC is putting on one of the biggest shows of the year this Saturday Night. As with any major UFC event, UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva defends the gold in the main event. There are also four fights on the FX portion of the preliminary card, with TUF alumni Chris Leben looking to make a comeback.
Kicking off the action is a lightweight division fight as Edson Barboza (11-1-0) competes against Rafaello “Tractor†Oliveira (16-5-0). Barboza has won five of six under the UFC banner, with a notable victory coming over Ross Pearson at UFC 134. Oliveira has only won one of three in UFC competition, with that lone victory coming over Yoislandy Izquierdo at UFC 148. Barboza is a few victories away from becoming a top ten fighter in the lightweight division and he will get that much closer with a victory this weekend.
A heavyweight division fight is up next as Gabriel “Napao†Gonzaga (14-7-0) battles Dave Herman (21-5-0). Gonzaga has won two of three in his second UFC run, with a big victory coming over Ben Rothwell at UFC On FX VII. Herman will enter the fight riding a three fight losing streak and the fighter has not earned a victory in over two years. This is Herman’s last chance in the UFC, unfortunately for him it will be Gonzaga defeating him and forcing the UFC to give him a pink slip.
Up next is a lightweight division fight as “Stormin’†Norman Parke (17-2-0) faces Kazuke Tokudome (12-3-1). Parke was the lightweight winner of TUF: The Smashes, as he defeated Colin Fletcher in the reality show finals. Tokudome is currently undefeated in UFC competition, having defeated Cristiano Marcello at UFC On Fuel TV VIII. This fight is easily the biggest test in Parke’s career, but it will be a test that the fight is going to be passing.
Headlining this portion of the card is a middleweight division fight as Andrew “Highlight†Craig (8-1-0) takes on Chris “The Crippler†Leben (22-9-0). Craig will be looking to rebound from his first professional MMA defeat, which came to Ronny Markes at UFC On FX VII. Leben has only won one of his last four fights and the fighter has not gotten a victory in over two years. This is a make or break fight for Leben, but he will go down as Craig will pick up the biggest win of his career.
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