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This weekend of MMA action is exclusive to the UFC and what a good way to cap everything off than with a top notch UFC Fight Night 44 card. The event will be headlined by a huge featherweight division bout as Cub Swanson battles Jeremy Stephens. Also, TUF Champion Kelvin Gastelum competes and Joe Ellenberger makes his long anticipated UFC debut.
Kicking off the action is a lightweight division bout as Joe “Excalibur†Ellenberger (14-1-0) competes against James “Moonwalker†Moontasri (7-1-0). Ellenberger will be making his UFC debut in this fight and he is the brother of UFC fighter Jake Ellenberger. Moontasri will also be making his UFC debut in this fight and he is a veteran of the Resurrection Fighting Alliance. Moontasri was a late replacement in this fight and that will hurt him in this one as Ellenberger makes a successful UFC debut.
A pair of middleweights are battling next as Clint Hester (10-3-0) does battle against Antonio Braga Neto (9-1-0-1NC). Hester is currently undefeated in UFC competition, most notably defeating Dylan Andrews at UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Silva. Neto is also undefeated in UFC competition, with his win coming over Anthony Smith at UFC On Fuel TV X. This is a huge opportunity for both competitors in this one, but it will be Hester staying undefeated in the UFC in the end.
Featherweight division action will be happening next as Hacran “Barnabe†Dias (21-2-1) is in action against Ricardo “The Bully†Lamas (13-3-0). Dias will be looking to rebound from his first loss in the UFC, which came to Nik Lentz at UFC On FX VIII. Lamas will be fighting for the first time since losing to UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Also at UFC 169. Lamas was a top contender to the featherweight title for a good reason and he will get a little closer to a second shot when he defeats Dias.
More middleweight division action is next as Andrew “Highlight†Craig (9-2-0) battles Cezar “Mutante†Ferreira (7-3-0). Craig has only won one of his last three under the UFC banner, with that lone win coming over Chris Leben at UFC 162. Ferreira has won three of four fights during his UFC run and he was the winner of the UFC Ultimate Fighter Brazil I. Ferreira stumbled in his last UFC bout and he will right the ship on Saturday Night when he defeats Craig.
Up next is a welterweight division attraction as Kelvin Gastelum (8-0-0) takes on Nicholas “Nico†Musoke (12-2-0-1NC). Gastelum is coming off of the biggest win of his career, as he defeated Rick Story by decision at UFC 171. Musoke is currently undefeated in UFC competition, with a notable win coming over Alessio Sakara at UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Munoz. Gastelum has looked better than most thought so far in the UFC and his rise is going to continue when he hands Musoke at loss.
Headlining this card is a featherweight division bout as Cub Swanson (20-5-0) faces Jeremy “Lil' Heathen†Stephens (23-9-0). Swanson will enter the fight riding a five fight winning streak, last defeating Dennis Siver at UFC 162. Stephens has been undefeated as a featherweight in the UFC, most notably defeating Darren Elkins at UFC On Fox X. The winner of this bout should be next in line for a featherweight title shot and it will be Swanson getting that shot.
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