It was just a few short weeks ago that I listed some of the more exciting bouts MMA has in store over the next few months. There is nothing better than going through a period where we are able to watch some great fights week in and week out.
As I looked more closely at we have to look forward to I realized that the month of June is going to be insane. The UFC has three cards in June alone with a fourth (UFC 132) just two days into July.
Just as UFC 130 is ending, Dream will be hosting their first event in some time as they present Dream 17: Fight for Japan that will air on tape delay via HDNET on June 3. MMA needs to be successful in Japan even if it means that their best fighters will be snatched up the UFC eventually.
June 4 brings us what promises to be one of the more action-packed, balls-to-the-wall fights as Clay Guida will look to make life a living hell for the last reigning WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis. The two will meet in the main event of The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale.
Just one week later, the UFC invades Vancouver for the second time in two years with UFC 131: Dos Santos vs. Carwin. Brock Lesnar was originally slated to face off against Dos Santos for the right to face UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, but was sidelined due to a recurrence of the diverticulitis that cost him a year away from action.
Strikeforce will continue with its Heavyweight Grand Prix on June 18 when they present Overeem vs. Werdum. The first round continues as Overeem will look to extract some revenge against Werdum who submitted him during their Pride days, many years and many pounds ago.
The Strikeforce Challenger Series continues on June 24 from Kent, Wash. This card is actually pretty loaded and includes UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture‘s son Ryan as he continues to learn the ropes and follow in his father’s footsteps.
Bellator will offer up a solid card featuring four featherweight tournament quarterfinal bouts. The event will take place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla. Bellator 46 will mark host the debut of former Sengoku featherweight champion Marlon Sandro.
Last, but certainly not least, the UFC returns to the Versus Network with UFC on Versus 4: Marquardt vs. Johnson. The main event will feature the debut of Nate Marquardt’s run in the welterweight division. He will face another fighter who is gigantic for the 170-pound division in Anthony Johnson.