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Kicking off another big weekend of MMA action will be the first of two UFC events taking place this coming week. UFC Fight Night 45 is happening on Wednesday Night with a lightweight main event pitting Jim Miller against Donald Cerrone. Also, Edson Barboza faces Evan Dunham and perrenial welterweight contender Rick Story is in action.
Kicking off the action is a lightweight division affair as Lucas “Mineiro†Martins (14-1-0) competes against Alex “The Spartan†White (10-0-0). Martins has won two of three fights under the UFC banner, most notably defeating Jeremy Larsen at UFC On FX VIII. White has already competed once under the UFC umbrella, having defeated Estevan Payan at UFC On Fox 11. These are two of the better prospects in the lightweight division right now, but it will be Martins ending the undefeated streak of White.
A pair of flyweights will be battling next as John “Hands Of Stone†Lineker (23-7-0) does battle against “The Turkish Delight†Alptekin Ozkilic (9-2-0). Lineker has won four of his last five fights in UFC competition, but his last fight was a loss to Ali Bagautinov at UFC 169. Ozkilic will be looking to rebound from his first defeat in the UFC, which came to Louis Smolka at UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Philippou. Lineker is establishing himself as a top contender in the flyweight division and he will get closer to that title shot when he defeats Ozkilic.
More lightweight action will be happening next as Joe Proctor (9-2-0) is in action against Justin “J-Bomb†Salas (12-5-0). Proctor has won two of three bouts during his UFC run, last defeating Cristiano Marcello at UFC Fight Night: Machida vs, Mousasi. Salas has rotated wins and losses throughout his time in the UFC, with his lats fight being a win over Ben Wall at UFC Fight Night: Brown vs. Silva. These are two competitors who are looking to earn there first win streak in the UFC and it will be Proctor getting that streak when he gets the win.
Welterweight division action is occurring next as Leonardo “Macarrao†Mafra (11-1-0) battles Rick “The Horror†Story (16-8-0). Mafra will be making his UFC debut in this bout and he has previously defeated UFC veteran Santiago Ponzinibbio. Story has rotated wins and losses in his last seven UFC appearances, with his last fight being a loss to Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 171. Story has been stumbling out of contention in a bad way in recent years, but he will pull out a much needed win as he defeats Mafra.
Up next is a lightweight division attraction as Edson Barboza (13-2-0) will take on Evan Dunham (14-5-0). Barboza has won three of his last four under the UFC banner, most notably defeating Danny Castillo at UFC On Fox IX. Dunham has only won one of his last four in UFC competition, with that lone win coming over Gleison Tibau at UFC 156. Barboza is quickly becoming the next big star in the lightweight division and his star will continue to rise as he defeats Dunham.
Headlining this card is a lightweight division bout as Donald “Cowboy†Cerrone (23-6-0-1NC) faces Jim Miller (24-4-0-1NC). Cerrone will enter the fight riding a three fight winning streak, last defeating Edson Barboza at UFC On Fox 11. Miller will also enter the bout riding a three fight winning streak and he has not lost a bout in well over two years. The winner of this fight could be near a lightweight title shot and it will be Miller getting the win in his home state.
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