Chris Leben – image via UFC.com
Two more bouts have been added to this July’s upcoming UFC 162 pay-per-view event in matchups featuring middleweights Chris ‘The Crippler’ Leben (22-9) versus Andrew ‘Highlight’ Craig (8-1) as well as a welterweight bout between Seth ‘The Polish Pistola’ Baczynski (18-9) and former Strikeforce fighter Brian Melancon (6-2).
The announcement was made during Tuesday nights episode of ‘UFC Tonight’ on Fuel TV.
UFC 162: Silva vs. Weidman is expected to take place on July 6, 2013 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will see UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva defend his title versus Chris Weidman.
Leben enters this bout on back-to-back losses and is 1-3 in his last four matches. ‘The Crippler’ lost a decision to late replacement fighter Derek Brunson last December at UFC 155 as well as a TKO stoppage defeat to Mark Munoz at UFC 138.
Craig suffered his first career loss in his last fight, ending an eight fight win streak which includes two in the Octagon. The loss took place this past January in Brazil at UFC on FX 7 where he lost to Ronny Markes via decision. His other Octagon wins include wins over Rafael Natal and Kyle Noke.
Baczynski looks to bounce back from a defeat, seeing a six fight win streak end at the hands of Mike Pierce last December at UFC on FX 6 by decision. Prior to that ‘The Polish Pistola’ had wins over Simeon Thoresen, Lance Benoist, Matt Brown and Clay Harvison under the UFC banner.
Melancon makes his Octagon debut versus Baczynski coming over from the Strikeforce promotion with a 1-1 record. His last fight went down in September 2011 putting him on the sidelines for almost two years between bouts. At the SF Challengers 19 event, Melancon picked up a decision win over Felipe Portela.