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This weekend will feature one of the most star studded cards that the UFC has ever given away for free on television. The event will be headlined by a pivotal light heavyweight division bout as Chael Sonnen faces Mauricio Rua. Also, Alistair Overeem looks to get back on track and Urijah Faber is looking to get a step closer to a title shot.
Kicking off the action is a lightweight division fight as Michael “The Menace†Johnson (12-8-0) competes against Joe “J-Lau†Lauzon (22-8-0). Johnson will enter the fight riding a two fight losing streak, with those losses coming to Myles Jury and Reza Madadi. Lauzon has only won one of his last three under the UFC banner, with that lone win coming over Jamie Varner at UFC On Fox IV. This fight has all the makings of a fairy tale ending for the hometown boy in Lauzon and that is what we will get.
Middleweights will be stepping into the cage next as Uriah Hall (7-3-0) does battle with John “Doomsday†Howard (20-8-0). Hall is currently winless in UFC competition, having dropped a fight to Kelvin Gastelum at the UFC Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale. Howard is returning to the UFC after a two year absence, but has won six of seven fights in between appearances. Hall is known for his highlight reel knockouts, but Howards ground based style will get him the win in his UFC return.
A pair of welterweights will be competing next as Matt “The Immortal†Brown (17-11-0) is in action against Mike “Quicksand†Pyle (25-8-1). Brown will enter the fight on the strength of a five fight winning streak, last defeating Jordan Mein at UFC On Fox VII. Pyle has won four of his last five fights entering this fight, with a notable victory over Rick Story at YUFC 160. The winner of this fight should move into title contention within the division and it will be Brown getting that win.
We move to the bantamweight division for the next bout as Yuri “Marajo†Alcantara (28-4-0-1NC) faces “The California Kid†Urijah Faber (28-6-0). Alcantara has only won one of his last three bouts, with that lone victory coming over Iliarde Santos at UFC On FX VIII. Faber will enter the fight riding a two fight winning streak, with those victories coming over Scott Jorgensen and Ivan Menjivar. Alcantara is a fighter with a bright future in the UFC, but this is not his time and it will be proven when Faber wins his third straight.
Up next is a heavyweight division fight as Travis “Hapa†Browne (14-1-1) takes on Alistair “Demolition Man†Overeem (36-12-0-1NC). Browne has won five of seven fights under the UFC banner, last defeating Gabriel Gonzaga at the UFC Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale. Overeem will be looking to rebound from his first loss in over five years, having dropped a fight to Antonio Silva at UFC 156. Overeem admittedly came in a little overconfident in his last fight, he will correct that issue to defeat Browne in this one.
Headlining this card is a light heavyweight division fight as Mauricio “Shogun†Rua (21-7-0) battles Chael Sonnen (27-13-1). Rua has rotated wins and losses in his last eight UFC appearances, with his last fight being a loss to Alexander Gustafsson at UFC On Fox V. Sonnen will enter the fight riding a two fight losing streak, with those losses coming to Anderson Silva and Jon Jones. This is a must win fight if either fighter is to remain a top level UFC fighter and it will be Sonnen getting that win.
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