1.UFC on FOX: Evans vs. Davis, Jan. 28. Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Rashad Evans and rising challenger Phil Davis will battle it out in the main event to more than likely determine the number-one challenger for Jon Jones’ title. And in a clash to determien who will be the number-one middleweight challenger, Anderson Silva’s nemesis, Chael Sonnen, takes on Mark Munoz. This will be the UFC’s second event on the FOX network.
2. UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit, to be held on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas. The main event on the card, between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit, holds special significance because the winner will be crowned the UFC Interim Welterweight Champion. Then, once current champion Georges St-Pierre rehabs from knee surgery, the UFC will hold a champion vs. champion bout to determine the true kingpin of the welterweight division.
3. UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson, also known as UFC 144: Japan, to be held on Feb. 25, marks the UFC’s long-awaited return to the Land of the Rising Sun. The event features a lightweight battle between champion Franie Edgar and top challenge Benson Henderson. The card also features Quinton Jackson vs. Ryan Bader and Mark Hunt vs. Cheick Kongo. The undercard is stacked with Japanese fighters such as Yushin Okami and Takanori Gomi.
4. UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. Nogueira, to be held on April 14 in Stockholm, Sweden. Alexander Gustafsson, a native of Sweden, has quickly established himself as a dangerous striker in the light-heavyweight division. He will meet his toughest test yet in veteran Brazilian Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, also known as “Lil Nog.”
5. UFC 146, to be held April 21 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Although a ways into the future for the UFC’s schedule, one major bout has been announced for the event: former heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez versus Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva. Velasquez, who was recently unseated as heavyweight champ by Junior dos Santos will have something to prove in his return fight, as will Silva, who is making his UFC debut after going 3-2 in Strikeforce.
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