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There are a total of four big MMA events taking place this weekend and capping everything off will be the UFC Fight Night 54 card. The event will be headlined by a huge welterweight division bout as Rory MacDonald faces Tarec Saffiedine. Also, Raphael Assuncao faces Bryan Caraway and several TUF alumni will be returning to the octagon as well.
Kicking off the action is a bantamweight division attraction as Mitch Gagnon (11-2-0) competes against Roman “El Gallito†Salazar (9-2-0). Gagnon will enter the fight riding a three fight winning streak, most notably defeating Dustin Kimura at UFC 165. Salazar will be making his UFC debut in this fight and he has previously competed against UFC veteran Anthony Birchak. Gagnon is quickly becoming one of the better bantamweights in the UFC and he will defeat the late replacement fighter in this one.
Welterweight division action is happening next as Jingliang “The Leech†Li (9-2-0) is in action against Nordine Taleb (9-2-0). Li is currently undefeated under the UFC banner, having defeated David Michaud by decision at UFC 173. Taleb is also undefeated in UFC competition, having defeated Vik Grujic at the UFC Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale. This is a huge opportunity for both competitors to be competing on the main card, but it will be Taleb using his wrestling to get the win.
A pair of middleweights will collide next as Bruno “Carioca†Santos (14-1-0) does battle against Elias “The Spartan†Theodorou (9-0-0). Santos will be looking to build on the momentum of his first UFC win, which came over Chris Camozzi at UFC 175. Theodorou is currently undefeated in UFC competition and he was the winner of the UFC Ultimate Fighter Nations. Theodorou is one of the better prospects to come out of TUF in a while now and he will show why as he stays undefeated by beating Santos.
The lightweight division will be featured next as Yosdenis “Pink Panther†Cedeno (10-3-0) battles Chad Laprise (8-0-0). Cedeno will be looking to build on the momentum of his first UFC win, which came over Jerrod Sanders at UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Miller. Laprise has already competed once under the UFC banner and he was the winner of the UFC Ultimate Fighter Nations. Laprise looked good when he won the TUF Nations and he will look good as he begins his UFC run by defeating Cedeno.
Up next is a bantamweight division attraction as Raphael Assuncao (22-4-0) takes on Bryan “Kid Lightning†Caraway (19-6-0). Assuncao will enter the fight riding a six fight winning streak and he has not lost a bout in well over three years. Caraway has won four of five fights during his UFC run, most notably defeating Erik Perez at UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov. Assuncao is easily the top contender in the bantamweight division right now and he will earn a shot at the gold by defeating Caraway.
Headlining this card is a welterweight division bout as Rory “Ares†MacDonald (17-2-0) faces Tarec “The Sponge†Saffiedine (15-3-0). MacDonald has won seven of his last eight fights in the UFC and he enters this bout riding a two fight winning streak. Saffiedine is currently undefeated in UFC competition and he was the final Strikeforce Welterweight Champion. The winner of this bout could be next in line for a welterweight title shot and it will be MacDonald getting that shot.
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