UFC 153 goes down Saturday night from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and a number of Brazilian fighters will have the opportunity to showcase their skills on the preliminary card.
Kicking off the Facebook fights, highly-touted Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu technician Cristiano Marcello takes on another high-level grappler in Reza Madadi in a lightweight scrap.
Next up, hard-hitting striker Luiz Cane makes his middleweight debut against a very game Chris Camozzi, while two Brazilian prospects clash in the form of Sergio Moraes vs. Renee Forte.
At featherweight, one of the few Americans on the card, Joey Gambino, will have his hands full with The Ultimate Fighter winner Diego Brandao.
In a classic new school vs. old school battle, UFC veteran, the hulking Gleison Tibau, takes on surging prospect Francisco Trinaldo.
Headlining the preliminary card, the first The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil winner Rony Mariano Bezerra takes on the dangerous Sam Sicilia.
Predicting the action this week are Bleacher Report MMA Featured Columnists Vince Carey, Matt Juul, and myself, John Heinis.
Take a look inside to see whose picking up the “W” this weekend.