Free on SpikeTV all the way from Manchester, England. Randy Couture and Brandon Vera face off in the main event for status in the lightheavy weight division, as Mike Swick and Dan Hardy go head to head in a battle that will award the winner a shot at Welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre in the co-main event and the return of Michael Bisping who will take on Dennis Kang.
Randy “The Natural” Couture vs. Brandon “The Truth” Vera
At 46 years old Randy “The Natural” Couture is back. The six time UFC champion and Hall of Famer is making his move back to the Lightheavy weight division after two consecutive losses in the UFC Heavyweight division where he lost his Heavyweight title to Brock Lesnar at UFC 91: Couture vs. Lesnar and a decision loss to former UFC interim-Heavyweight champion Antonio Noguiera at UFC 102: Couture vs. Noguiera.
Meeting Couture is former Heavyweight competitor Brandon Vera. Vera made his Lightheavy weight debut at UFC Fight Night 14: Silva vs. Irvin, with a unanimous decision victory over Resse Andy. Vera is coming in off a two fight win streak, with victories over Mike Pratt at UFC 96: Jackson vs. Jardine and Krzysztof Soszynski at UFC 102.
Mike “Quick” Swick vs. Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy #1 contendership match
Swick an Ultimate Fighter one competitor made his UFC debut in a lightheavy weight bout at the Ultimate Fighter one Finale with a :20 knock out over Alex Schoenauer. Swick enters this #1 contendership match on a four fight win streak; he last took on Ben Saunders at UFC 99: The Comeback, where he walked away with the TKO triumph.
Fighting in his native of England, Dan Hardy holds an unbeaten record in the octagon since making his UFC debut at UFC 89: Bisping vs. Leben, were he took the split decision victory over Akihiro Gono. His latter victim being Marcus Davis on the same card as his opponent at UFC 99, where he edged out the win via split decision.
For the winner of this welterweight bout, it means getting ready for the biggest match of their career when they meet the current and dominate Welterweight champion Georges “Rush” St. Pierre.
Michael Bisping vs. Dennis Kang
After losing his debut match in the UFC, Kang was able to redeem himself in his second octagon appearance with a unanimous decision victory over Xavier Foupa-Pokam at UFC 97: Redemption. The former Pride Fighting Championship and DREAM fighter makes his third octagon appearance against British native Michael Bisping.
Bisping makes his octagon return after a devastating KO loss to fellow coach on TUF 9 Dan Henderson at UFC 100 in the second round, which gave the Ultimate Fighter 3 winner his second loss of his mixed martial arts career, his first came at the hands of former UFC Lightheavy weight champion Rashad Evans.
James Wilks vs. Matt Brown
Wilks the winner of the Ultimate Fighter 9 welterweight competition makes his second appearance in the octagon after defeating Damarques Johnson via Rear Naked Choke of round one in the Ultimate Fighter 9 finale.
Facing Wilks is TUF 7 competitor Matt Brown. Brown made his debut on the TUF 7 finale where he defeated Matt Arroyo with a second round TKO. Out of his four octagon appearances Brown only has one loss to Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 88: Breakthrough via split decision.
Ross Pearson vs. Aaron Riley
Winner of the Ultimate Fighter season nine Lightheavy weight competitions, Pearson makes his second appearance Saturday, after a victorious debut over Andre Winner. Pearson will meet TUF 8 competitor Aaron Riley, who is coming in off a win over Shane Nelson at UFC 101: Declaration.
