August 15, 2012 – The Ultimate Fighting Championship recently announced some notable bouts for their UFC on FOX 5 event scheduled to air on the network on December 8 as the last big card on the network for the year.
Keep in mind there are no less than seven events between now and then but this initial announcement should give fans even more to look forward to.
First of all, recently validated UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson moves past his Frankie Edgar saga as he will be squaring off against new number-one contender Nate Diaz in the main event of the evening.
This will mark only the second time the UFC will be anchoring a FOX event with a title shot and the first since the promotion debuted spectacularly on the network with the heavyweight title match pitting Junior dos Santos against Cain Velasquez last November.
Also making his return to FOX for the second time is Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. He’ll be taking on a top 205 lbs. prospect in Alexander Gustafsson.
Aside from a lone loss to Phil Davis almost two years ago, Gustafsson has won his other 14 pro bouts and will be looking to rise furthermore with a win over the former PRIDE and UFC champion. Meanwhile, “Shogun” will look to prove he still has more left in the tank after all the wars he’s been in lately, including his last fight on FOX against a resurgent Brandon Vera.
Last but not least on the currently planned offering for UFC on Fox 5 is the much anticipated fight between Canadian Rory MacDonald and the returning BJ Penn.
The two were originally slated to face off in the main event of UFC 152 scheduled for Toronto next month but an injury to Rory now moves what should be a very telling bout for both men to the last FOX card of the year.
Stay tuned here to TXMMA for more news on this card as it comes up in the near future.
