UFC on FX 8: Rockhold vs. Belfort - Fight Card Updates

[keithlewis]

The Ultimate Fighting Championship will return to Brazil for the second time in 2013 on May 18, as the Jaragua Arena in Jaragua do Sul, Santa Catarina, will host UFC on FX 8: Rockhold vs. Belfort. In the main event, MMA legend Vitor Belfort returns to the Octagon after his victory in January at UFC Sao Paulo, where he knocked out Michael Bisping. Belfort faces Luke Rockhold, the outgoing middleweight champion of Strikeforce, who rides a series of nine wins.

In the co-main event, former Strikeforce champion Ronaldo "Jacare" faces Cypriot Constantinos "Costa" Philippou. Seven other fights have been confirmed for the event, all of them featuring Brazilian stars squaring off against competitors from around the world:

Cezar "Mutante" Ferreira vs. CB Dollaway - middleweight
Rafael dos Anjos vs. Evan Dunham - lightweight
Francisco "Massaranduba" Trinaldo vs Mike Rio - lightweight
Paulo Thiago vs. Lance Benoist - welterweight
John Lineker vs Azamat Gashimov - flyweight
Fabio Maldonado vs. Roger Hollet - light heavyweight
Gleison Tibau vs. John Cholish - lightweight

"This is the fourth Brazilian state that we have the joy of visiting and another great achievement for the UFC," said Grace Tourinho, spokesperson for UFC in Brazil. "Brazilian fans still have many good things to expect from us in 2013, including live events, the next season of The Ultimate Fighter Brasil and the opening of a UFC headquarters in the country."

"Fighting in Brazil is always very good, and I'm honored to fight in the third different state in my country," said Belfort, who will be looking to earn his fourth win in his home country.

[keithlewis]

MAIN CARD (FX):

Vitor Belfort vs. Luke Rockhold
Constantinos Philippou vs. Ronaldo Souza
C.B. Dollaway vs. Cezar Ferreira
Rafael dos Anjos vs. Evan Dunham

PRELIMINARY CARD (FX and Facebook):

Mike Rio vs. Francisco Trinaldo
Lance Benoist vs. Paulo Thiago
Azamat Gashimov vs. John Lineker
Roger Hollett vs. Fabio Maldonado
John Cholish vs. Gleison Tibau
Chris Cariaso vs. Jussier Formiga*
Yuri Alcantara vs. Marcos Vinicius*
Hacran Dias vs. Manny Gamburyan*
Jeremy Larsen vs. Lucas Martins*

* Not officially announced

[keithlewis]

UFC on FX 8: Belfort vs. Rockhold
May 18, 2013
Arena Jaragua Jaragua do Sul
Santa Catarina, Brazil



Main Bouts (FX):

Vitor Belfort (22-10) vs. Luke Rockhold (10-1)
Constantinos Philippous (12-2) vs. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (17-3)
Rafael dos Anjos (18-6) vs. Evan Dunham (14-3)
Rafael Natal (15-4-1) vs. Chris Camozzi (19-5)


Preliminary Bouts (Fuel TV):

Hacran Dias (21-1-1) vs. Nik Lentz (23-5-2)
Francisco Trinaldo (12-2) vs Mike Rio (9-1)
Gleison Tibau (35-9) vs. John Cholish (8-2)
Yuri Alcantara (26-4) vs. Marcos Vinicius (20-5-1)
Fabio Maldonado (18-6) vs. Roger Hollet (13-4)
Paulo Thiago (14-5) vs. Richard dos Prazeres (16-0)


Preliminary Bouts (UFC Facebook/Youtube):

John Lineker (20-6) vs. Azamat Gashimov (7-2)
Jussier Formiga (14-2) vs. Chris Cariaso (14-4)
Lucas Martins (11-1) vs. Jeremy Larsen (8-3)

[keithlewis]

Costa Philippou has suffered an injury, forcing him out of his co-main event bout with Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza. Stepping in for Philippou is TUF alum Chris Camozzi, who will look to build upon his four-fight win streak against the former Strikeforce middleweight champion. Camozzi's previous opponent Rafael Natal will now welcome submission artist Joao Zeferino to the UFC. In other news, after losing opponent Lance Benoist to injury, Paulo Thiago will now face undefeated newcomer Michel Prazeres on the preliminary card of UFC on FX 8.


www.ufc.com

[keithlewis]

The final UFC on FX 8 card:


MAIN CARD (FX, 9 p.m. ET):

Vitor Belfort vs. Luke Rockhold
Chris Camozzi vs. Ronaldo Souza
Rafael dos Anjos vs. Evan Dunham
Rafael Natal vs. Joao Zeferino


PRELIMINARY CARD (FUEL TV, 6 p.m. ET):

Hacran Dias vs. Nik Lentz
Mike Rio vs. Francisco Trinaldo
John Cholish vs. Gleison Tibau
Michel Prazeres vs. Paulo Thiago
Yuri Alcantara vs. Iliarde Santos
Roger Hollett vs. Fabio Maldonado


PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook, 4:30 p.m. ET):

Azamat Gashimov vs. John Lineker
Chris Cariaso vs. Jussier Formiga
Jeremy Larsen vs. Lucas Martins