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Capping off a weekend of MMA action that features a total of five live events will be UFC Fight Night 49. The event will be headlined by a crucial lightweight division bout as Ben Henderson battles Rafael Dos Anjos. Also, Jordan Mein faces Mike Pyle and Thales Leites is looking to keep the momentum going since returning to the UFC.
Kicking off the action is a featherweight division bout as Tom “Stone Face†Niinimaki (21-6-1) competes against Chas “The Scrapper†Skelly (11-1-0). Niinimaki will be looking to rebound from his first UFC defeat, which came to Niklas Backstrom at UFC Fight Night: Munoz vs. Mousasi. Skelly is currently winless under the UFC banner, having lost to Mirsad Bektic by decision at UFC On Fox 11. This is a fight that should not have been on the main card, but it will be Niinimaki getting a much needed victory.
A pair of lightweights will collide next as Valmir “Bidu†Lazaro (12-2-0) does battle against James “The Texecutioner†Vick (5-0-0). Lazaro will be making his UFC debut in this fight and he does so on the strength of an eleven fight winning streak. Vick pulled a big upset in his UFC debut back at UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen, as he defeated Ramsey Nijem. Vick shocked the UFC world when he defeated Nijem and he will ride that momentum to pull another upset as he defeats Lazaro.
More featherweight division action is happening next as “Cassius†Clay Collard (13-4-0-1NC) is in action against Max “Blessed†Holloway (9-3-0). Collard will be making his UFC debut in this fight, but he does hold a win over UFC veteran Justin Buchholz. Holloway will enter the bout riding a two fight winning streak, last defeating Andre Fili at UFC 172. Collard is coming into the fight as a late replacement and that is going to affect him negatively as Holloway emerges with a win.
Middleweight division action is on the card next as Francis “Limitless†Carmont (22-9-0) battles Thales Leites (23-4-0). Carmont will enter the bout riding a two fight losing streak and he has not won a bout in almost a year. Leites has been undefeated thus far in his second UFC run, most notably defeating Ed Herman at UFC 167. Leites has seemingly become a new fighter since returning to the UFC and his good run will continue when he defeats Carmont.
Up next is a welterweight division attraction as Jordan “Young Gun†Mein (28-9-0) takes on Mike “Quicksand†Pyle (26-9-1). Mein has won two of three fights in his UFC tenure, most notably defeating Dan Miller at UFC 158. Pyle has won five of his last six bouts under the UFC umbrella, last defeating TJ Waldburger at UFC 170. Pyle has seen a career resurgence during his time in the UFC and his run will continue when he defeats Mein.
Headlining this card is a lightweight division bout as Rafael Dos Anjos (21-7-0) faces “Smooth†Ben Henderson (21-3-0). Dos Anjos has won six of his last seven fights in UFC competition, most notably defeating Donald Cerrone at UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Kampmann II. Henderson has been undefeated since losing his UFC Lightweight Title to Anthony Pettis at UFC 164. The winner of this bout could easily be next in line for a title shot and it will be Henderson getting that shot.
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