The Land of the Rising Sun? Well, since the birds will be just about ready to chirp once this one wraps up on the East Coast, that seems appropriate for this particular situation.
UFC Fight Night 52—kicking off at 12:30 a.m. ET in the U.S.—goes down from the revered Saitama Super Arena near Tokyo, Japan. Japan is known for its unwavering enthusiasm for combat sports, particularly when large men are involved. Large, large men? Even better.
Enter Mark Hunt and Roy Nelson, two UFC heavyweights as powerful as they are girthsome. In fact, they’re probably the two most powerful (and girthsome) fighters in the promotion today. Fans have howled for Hunt vs. Nelson since the two co-habitated the heavyweight roster, and they’ll finally get it at the Saitama Super Arena.
But don’t hang up the phone just yet. This card is surprisingly deep, especially for one airing entirely on Fight Pass, the UFC’s streaming subscription service. Exciting, violent and promising combatants cover the lineup from beginning to end.
Here’s a complete guide to the 12-fight slate, including information capsules, quick predictions and everything else you need to know. So put on a pot of coffee and tuck in.