When the UFC returns to Fox on Saturday night, the organization will be pulling out all the stops—just shy of a title fight to cap off the card.
Sure, gold may not be on the line directly, but the stakes are still incredibly high.
In the main event, juggernaut Travis Browne will look to overcome Fabricio Werdum‘s experience and grappling pedigree in a fight worthy of a pay-per-view main slot. They’ll both have good reason to push things to the limit, with recent developments, per MMA Junkie, confirming that the winner will square off against heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez later this year.
Will Browne continue his streak of first-round knockouts, or will Werdum figure out a way to secure a limb and force the tap?
One step shy of that main bout, Miesha Tate and Liz Carmouche will duke it out in a fight that could represent the beginning of the end for the fighter who winds up on the losing end.
Which of the two women is hungrier for victory at this apex of their respective career arcs?
And just prior to that, Donald Cerrone will look to avoid the lightning-fast kicks coming his way courtesy of Edson Barboza. Cowboy is far more capable on the ground, but the question lies in whether or not Junior will light him up on the feet before it even gets there.
When we talk of stacked fight cards, this is the kind of event everyone has in mind.
Let’s take a look at the entire thing, from stem to stern.
Just consider how robust the main card must be in order to force the UFC matchmakers to stick Thiago Alves‘ return bout on the undercard.
If you factor in the appearances of Jordan Mein, Jorge Masvidal and Pat Healy, it’s tough to argue that the Fox Sports 1 prelims are nearly as tantalizing as the primary Fox fights.
Oh, and let’s not forget that acting as the segue to the first main card fight, we have Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Rafael dos Anjos—the undefeated Dagestani is looking to overwhelm any and all opposition en route to a 155-pound title shot.
With prospective title shots—not to mention potential UFC employment—on the line at UFC on Fox 11, fans are certainly in store for a memorable fight card.
The roster is good enough to warrant pulling out that wallet; the beauty lies within the fact that on Saturday night, you won’t even be asked to do so.
Be sure to check back with Bleacher Report for thorough post-fight coverage and news.
Artem Moshkovich is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter for MMA news and more.
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