Well I'm going to hope and pray that none of these fights get moved or pulled due to injury. I would pay money to watch these fights on PPV.


Ultimate Fighting Championship's lightweight title will be defended on network television.

USA TODAY Sports and MMAjunkie.com (http://www.mmajunkie.com) confirmed with UFC officials that current lightweight champion Benson Henderson (17-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC) will face Nate Diaz (14-3-1, 9-3-1) at UFC on FOX 5, which takes place Dec. 8 at a host site to be announced.

A light-heavyweight matchup between former champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (21-6, 5-4) and Alexander Gustafsson (14-1, 6-1) serves as the night's co-feature, and a B.J. Penn (16-8-2, 12-7-2) vs. Rory MacDonald (13-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) fight also has been rebooked for the card.

A fourth main-card fight is expected to be added to the FOX broadcast in the coming weeks.

Henderson headlined this past weekend's UFC 150 event and scored the first successful defense of his title with a split-decision victory over Frankie Edgar, whom he also narrowly defeated in February to win the title. Despite the close nature of the rematch, UFC President Dana White immediately made it clear that Diaz, who was promised a title shot following a May win over Jim Miller, would get the next crack at the belt.

Rua returns to action following a victory over Brandon Vera earlier this month in UFC on FOX 4's headliner. The Brazilian had an opportunity to earn a title shot against the winner of next month's UFC 151 headliner of champ Jon Jones vs. Dan Henderson, but fellow ex-champ Lyoto Machida leapfrogged him with an impressive stoppage of Ryan Bader.

Rua now faces Gustafsson, who's been inactive since an April win over Thiago Silva in his native Sweden. "The Mauler," one of the light-heavyweight division's top prospects, currently boasts a five-fight win streak. A win over a former champ would serve as a signature victory and propel Gustafsson to serious title consideration.

MacDonald and Penn, meanwhile, initially were slated to co-headline next month's UFC 152 event in Toronto. However, MacDonald suffered a cut in training that required 38 stitches, and the bout was postponed.

Penn, a former two-division champ and future UFC Hall of Famer, hasn't fought since a loss this past October to Nick Diaz at UFC 137. The young MacDonald, meanwhile, recently posted a dominant second-round TKO of Che Mills in UFC 145's co-headliner in April, which marked his third consecutive victory.

UFC on FOX 5 is the fourth and final UFC event to air on network TV this year.

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That lineup looks better than most ppv's... I am a big believer in Rory..think he will have the belt in the near future...Diaz takes hendo down....an AG over shogun.

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Damn, great card for a free event. Let's fast forward to December please.

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Fuck Edwards and Zobrist

It had a really decent undercard that I was looking forward to but within the last few weeks there have been some people pulling out of fights. The main card is still intact. So jacked up for this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1Xf0NLb3Lc

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Awesome card. Want to see Diaz get slapped around for 4 or 5 rounds. And his brother at ringside to see it happen.

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CSFMB: Home of the small minded

Can't wait for Saturday. I'm a fan of Henderson and Diaz. I would love to see Diaz pull the upset, but I don't see him being able to finish Henderson. I'm not a fan of seeing the champ lose the belt by decision, unless it is completely one sided. I don't see either guy dominating this fight. Would love to see Penn have one last highlight fight, but once again, I just don't see that happening. He looks to be in great shape though.

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Fuck Edwards and Zobrist

Saturday can't get here soon enough. Gonna say it again, this is the best card(on paper) that they've had all year and it's free. Taking a second look at the undercard it's not that bad. Gonna pick up a few things from 3 floyds this weekend and enjoy the fights.

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Guess Penn and Rory went back and fourth at the presser today, and had a intense stare down. Ronda was there also to announce she is fight at UFC 157 in the main event. I'm not sure she is ready to main event ppv's, but we will see. I'm sure the guys were pissed that White did this today during their presser.

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Fuck Edwards and Zobrist

Talking to the media after the presser, White said that GSP wants Diaz, and that it will probably be the next fight. He said GSP doesn't ask for much, so he figures he owes him. White hasn't told Diaz, but he is in Seattle with his brother.

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Fuck Edwards and Zobrist

Yea these next 2 Fox cards are ppv worthy. Saturdays card is ridiculous snd each one pretty much has fotn potential. Cant wait

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"You can kill the revolutionary, but you can't kill the revolution."

I hate the fact that Nick Diaz is getting a title shot when he hasn't beaten a WW worth getting a title shot in years. BJ Penn doesn't count because the dude is a freaking LW. Nick has talked himself into a shot coming off a loss and a year long drug suspension. At least Overreem is fighting again not just being handed a shot.

Why can't Nick Diaz earn it like his brother had to do? Johnny Hendricks deserves that shot more then Diaz.

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I agree with you, Chris. I think White has put himself in a tough spot. He has given Sonnen and now Diaz title shots, without really earning them. I guess the only thing he can say is both champions basically asked for these fights.

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Fuck Edwards and Zobrist

The only difference between Diaz getting a shot and Sonnen getting a shot is NOBODY wanted to fight Jon Jones besides Belfort and Sonnen(two 185ers) Machida said no, so did Shogun. Henderson was pissed he got passed over but that's what happens when you get hurt. You lose your place in line. GSP should fight Hendricks but he doesn't want to because of the money he can make with a Diaz fight.

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I really hope BJ puts Rory to sleep by either KO or choke. I needs to be brought down a notch imo. Hes come off a bit douchy

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"You can kill the revolutionary, but you can't kill the revolution."

UFC?

People still watch this?

I thought douchy came with the territory in this here cage fighting. Penn needs to hang 'em up before he starts getting embarrassed in the ring. I respect BJ as a scrappy grappler and his career, but his time has passed. It's hard to refuse a contract and if the doctor says "yes you can fight", who can say no to that? He should run a mma gym somewhere and train those yet to come into the sport.

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CSFMB: Home of the small minded

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ufc-fox-4- ... --mma.html

Millions are watching.

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CSFMB: Home of the small minded

The Prelims have been outstanding. There was a KO in the 3rd fight of the prelims that made me drop my jaw. Great great fights.

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Fixed

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Morons in Penn's corner screaming obscenities on FOX. This is why they can't have nice things.

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It must be Nate Diaz' life's goal to be the ugliest dog's ass punk motherfucker ever.

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Just chillin' like Garret Quillin.

Prelims were great. Main card was nothing to brag about, all pretty much one-sided fights. Sounds like Penn does his Favre and retires again. Shogun should probably consider doing the same.

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Fuck Edwards and Zobrist

Yea Shogun should hang em up. He's not even half the fighter he was. He was on the decline already but i think it was the Hendo fight that took away some years from his life. Hes only 30 and fights like a 45 yr old clinger

Penn is on the same boat. Time to hang em up

I really wanna see Rory get his block knocked off

Yves nasty KO of Stephans pretty much was the HL of this even for me. Hes still one of my favs and its always good to see an old schooler take out a young gun

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"You can kill the revolutionary, but you can't kill the revolution."

He should change his name to Mrs. Henderson. Flipping off the camera or his opponent. That is almost as classless as Rory doing the rope-a-dope and shuffling his feet instead of finishing Penn.

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CSFMB: Home of the small minded

Great fights....better than the ppv ...love seeing that dbag. Diaz get beat down..gsp will. Do the dame to his brother .

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Damn, I forgot all about this. I watched the highlights and it was great to see someone stand with Diaz and not let him get in his head. Benson was a monster.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."