After winning The Ultimate Fighter in December, Diego Brandao is ready to return to the Octagon for a bout against Darren Elkins at Saturday’s UFC 146. Undefeated in his past four official fights, the 24-year-old Brandao is beginning to hit his stride and could be a future force in the featherweight division.
Meanwhile after dropping down to the 145-pound division Elkins has defeated Michihiro Omigawa and Tiequan Zhang. Though not considered a title threat, Elkins has a way of dragging opponents into his type of fight and will look to use his experience against the young and emotional Brandao.
As of late, The Ultimate Fighter has produced few winners capable of making an immediate run at the top of their respective divisions. With his first step toward becoming a featherweight contender less than one week away, let’s take a look at Brandao’s chances of earning a fifth straight win.