Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
There are a total of six big time MMA promotions running events this weekend and none may be bigger than UFC Fight Night 51. The event will be headlined by a heavyweight division rematch as Antonio Silva again faces Andrei Arlovski. Also, Gleison Tibau gets the biggest spotlight of his long UFC tenure and TUF Champion Efrain Escudero returns to the UFC.
Kicking off the action is a women's bantamweight division bout as Jessica “Bate Estaca†Andrade (11-3-0) competes against Larissa Moreira Pacheco (10-0-0). Andrade has won two of three fights during her UFC run, most notably defeating Raquel Pennington at UFC 171. Pacheco will be making her UFC debut in this fight and she is a longtime veteran of the Jungle Fight promotion. Pacheco will be entering the event undefeated, but she will be leaving with a loss as Andrade wins her third straight.
A pair of bantamweights will collide next as Iuri “Marajo†Alcantara (30-5-0-1NC) does battle against Russell Doane (14-3-0). Alcantara has won three of his last four fights during his UFC run, most notably defeating Wilson Reis at UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Mousasi. Doane is currently undefeated in UFC competition, last defeating Marcus Brimage at UFC 175. This fight is worthy of a spot on a much bigger UFC card, but it will be Alcantara getting the victory in the end.
The welterweight division will be featured next as Wendell “Negao†Oliveira (24-7-0) is in action against Santiago “El Rasta†Ponzinibbio (18-2-0). Oliveira will be making his UFC debut in this fight, but he has fought UFC veterans Hernani Perpetuo and Leandro Silva. Ponzinibbio is currently winless in UFC competition, having dropped a fight to Ryan LaFlare at UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson. This fight is not worthy of a spot of the main card, but it will be Silva making a successful UFC debut when its all said and done.
Lightweight division action is happening next as Efrain Escudero (22-8-0) battles Leonardo Santos (12-3-1). Escudero is starting his third run in the UFC, but he was the winner of the UFC Ultimate Fighter 8 after defeating Philipe Nover in the finals. Santos is currently undefeated in UFC competition and he was the winner of the UFC Ultimate Fighter Brazil II. Escudero has never been able to find his footing in the UFC and his stumbles will continue as Santos gets the win.
Up next is a lightweight division encounter as Piotr “Pletwal†Hallman (15-2-0) takes on Gleison Tibau (29-10-0). Hallman has won two of three fights under the UFC banner, most notably defeating Yves Edwards at UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov. Tibau has won three of his last four in UFC competition, last defeating Pat Healy at UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Miller. Tibau has deserved a shot to be in a featured fight for a long time now and he will reward the UFC for the opportunity by getting the victory.
Headlining this card is a heavyweight division bout as Andrei “The Pitbull†Arlovski (22-10-0-1NC) faces Antonio “Bigfoot†Silva (18-5-1). Arlovski is currently undefeated in his second UFC run and he is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion. Silva won the first meeting between the two back at Strikeforce: Heavyweight Artillery and he returns from a UFC issued suspension after a failed drug test. Silva is a far better fighter than the first time he fought Arlovski and history will be repeating itself as Silva wins again.
Contact me at bigteesps3@yahoo.com
