MMA Combat - Alves vs. Abedi, Pickett vs. "Barao" Added to UFC 138

MMA Combat - Alves vs. Abedi, Pickett vs. "Barao" Added to UFC 138

Thiago "Pitbull" Alves has struggled of late

UFC officials announced via twitter on Wednesday that one-time UFC welterweight title challenger, Thiago Alves (18-8-0) will collide with promotion new-comer Papy Abedi (8-0-0) at UFC 138 - Leben vs. Munoz, November 5, 2011, at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England.

Representing American Top Team, 27-year old Thiago "Pitbull" Alves has finished 11 of his 26 professional bouts by [T]KO, but has suffered losses in three of his previous four fights dating back to when he challenged champion Georges St. Pierre for the promotion title at UFC 100 - Lesner vs. Mir II in July of 2009. Alves last appeared at UFC 130 - Rampage vs. Hamill in May where he dropped a unanimous decision to Rick Story.

Abedi, fighting out of Stockholm, Sweden, has started his professional career a perfect 8-0, although "Makambo" has been in no rush to get there fighting 1-2 times annually since 2006. At 33 years of age, the Superior Challenge veteran will be making his UFC debut; he has finished five of his eight opponents by [T]KO.

Also tabbed for the card, Bantamweights Brad Pickett (20-5-0) and Renan "Barao" (26-1-0) will square off as each man looks to creep closer to a crack at the 135lbs title. 32-year old London, England, native Pickett has been sidelined with injury since the spring of this year when the WEC import was forced to withdraw from his would-be UFC debut against former WEC champion Miguel Torres. "One Punch" has defeated ten of his last eleven opponents, stopping seven of them inside the distance. "Barao" meanwhile is 1-0 inside the octagon. He last appeared at UFC 130 in May where he handled Cole Escovedo with a unanimous decision victory; the Nova Uniao fighter has won 26-straight fights (1 NC) and has stopped nearly half (12) of his opponents by way of submission.

MMA Combat - UFC 138 Main-Event Features Leben vs. Munoz

MMA Combat - UFC 138 Main-Event Features Leben vs. Munoz

Middleweight contenders Chris "The Crippler" Leben (26-7-0) and Mark "The Filipino Wrecking Machine" Munoz (11-2-0) will headline UFC 138, in Birmingham, England, at the National Exhibition Centre on November 5, 2011. UFC officials announced the bout on Tuesday, also confirming details for the event which is scheduled to air free on Spike TV. It was initially thought that November 5's show would be titled UFC Fight Night 25, but later it was determined that the date would have a traditional title, moving back Velasquez vs. dos Santos one number to UFC 139, scheduled for November 19.

Leben last appeared earlier this month, July 2, at UFC 132 - Faber vs. Cruz II where "The Crippler" devastated former PRIDE FC middleweight king, Wanderlei Silva, with a series of short uppercuts that ended "The Axe Murderer's" night 27 seconds into the contest. Leben has posted wins in four of his last five outings, losing only to Brian Stann on January 1 during that stretch when "The All-American" blitzed him in the first round with a barrage of strikes that overwhelmed the soon-to-be 31 year old Portland, Oregon, native.

Munoz is a winner in three consecutive bouts since his decision loss to #1 contender Yushin Okami at UFC Live 2 in August of 2010. Known for his ferocious power and top-notch wrestling ability, the Oklahoma State University alumnus is 6-2 since joining the UFC ranks. Munoz last appeared at UFC 131 - dos Santos vs. Carwin in Vancouver, Canada, June 11, where he salvaged a unanimous decision win over one-time title challenger, Demian Maia. The contest at UFC 138 is reported to be the UFC's first five round non-title fight.


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MMA Combat - Velasquez to Defend Against dos Santos Nov 19

MMA Combat - Velasquez to Defend Against dos Santos Nov 19

UFC champion Cain Velasquez

The Los Angeles Times has reported that UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez (9-0-0) is tabbed to defend his title against number-one contender Junior dos Santos (13-1-0) on November 19, 2011, at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, citing Zuffa chairman Lorenzo Fertitta as their source.

The bout will headline UFC 138 and garner a partisan crowd in support of the champion as American Kickboxing Academy has deep roots in the city, where Velasquez trains. Velasquez last appeared in October of 2010 when he defeated then champion Brock Lesner for the promotion strap at UFC 121. Undefeated in his professional career, the champion is a perfect 7-0 inside the octagon with notable wins over Ben Rothwell, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and the aforementioned Lesner. After his latest victory, Velasquez was forced to undergo surgery to repair an injured rotator-cuff; and although it has taken longer than expected for All-American wrestler to heal, all reports suggest he'll be ready for action before year's end.

Challenger Junior dos Santos has been nothing short of brilliant throughout his UFC stint to-date. With a punishing victory over one-time title challenger Shane Carwin at UFC 131, June 11, in Vancouver, Canada, dos Santos solidified himself as the division's number one contender. With 8 [T]KOs in 13 career wins, "Cigano" showcases some of the most refined boxing skill in the heavyweight division today; besting Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin most recently via one-sided unanimous decisions, the Team Nogueira product stopped his first five opponents inside the octagon on punches and will look to complete his run to the top later this year against the formidable Velasquez.


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