Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
The Ultimate Fighting Championships is returning to Japan this Saturday Night with another loaded line up. The event will be headlined by a huge heavyweight division fight as Josh Barnett faces Roy Nelson. Also, Gegard Mousasi faces Uriah Hall and we will be seeing the finals of the Road To UFC: Japan reality show.
Main Card
Main Event
UFC Heavyweight Division Fight
Roy “Big Country†Nelson (20-11-0) vs. “The Warmaster†Josh Barnett (33-7-0)
Nelson has only won just one of his last five under the UFC banner, with that lone win coming over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Nogueira. Barnett has only won just one of his last two in his second UFC run, with that lone win coming over Frank Mir at UFC 164. Nelson will be headlining a UFC card for the third time in his last four fights, he went 1-1-0 in those other headlining bouts. Barnett will be returning to action after the longest layoff of his career, which has last nearly two full years. Nelson has a shot to win the fight with that punching power of his, but Barnett will eventually back Nelson into the cage wall, where he works his strikes for a TKO finish.
Co-Main Event
UFC Middleweight Division Fight
Uriah “Primetime†Hall (11-5-0) vs. Gegard “The Dreamcatcher†Mousasi (37-5-2)
Hall has won four of his last five fights under the UFC banner, most notably defeating Chris Leben at UFC 168. Mousasi will enter the fight riding a two fight winning streak, last defeating Coastas Philippou at UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber. Hall will be fighting for the fourth time in 2015, this year has seen Hall compete more times than any previous year of his career. Mousasi has headlined four of six UFC events thus far since entering the promotion, winning two of his headlining bouts. Hall will have some success keeping Mousasi at range, but Mousasi will eventually get him down and submit him in the first round.
UFC Flyweight Division Fight
“King†Chico Camus (14-6-0-1NC) vs. Kyoji Horiguchi (15-2-0)
Camus has just won only one of his last four fights under the UFC banner, with that lone win coming over Brad Pickett at UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Swanson. Horiguchi will be competing for the first time since losing a title bout to current flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson at UFC 186. Camus has enough of a skill set to keep this one interesting for a little while, but Horiguchi will eventually take over with his superior striking for a decision win.
UFC Bantamweight Division Fight
Takeya Mizugaki (20-9-2) vs. George Roop (15-11-1)
Mizugaki will enter the fight on a two fight losing streak, which is the first time he has been on a losing streak in over eight years. Roop will be returning to action after a year-plus layoff and he has won three of five fights since dropping to bantamweight. Mizugaki will have a hard time getting on the inside of the much bigger Roop, Roop keeps Mizugaki at bay with his striking to earn a decision.
UFC Featherweight Division Fight
Diego “DB†Brandao (19-10-0) vs. Katsunori Kikuno (22-7-2)
Brandao has won just one of his last three under the UFC banner, with that lone win coming over Jim Hettes at UFC On Fox 15. Kikuno has rotated wins and losses throughout his UFC run, with his last fight being a loss to Edimilson Souza at UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. LaFlare. Brandao has one of the better aggressive styles in the UFC, he overwhelms Kikuno with strikes for a first round finish.
Road To UFC: Japan Finals
Mizuto “Pungus†Hirota (17-7-1) vs. Teruto “Yashabo†Ishihara (7-2-1)
Hirota went winless during his first UFRC run, dropping fights to both Rani Yahya and Ridrigo Damm respectively. Ishihara will be making his UFC debut in this fight and he will be returning to action after a year-plus layoff. Hirota has looked very good in between UFC runs, Hirota will win a razor close decision in what should be an excellent slugfest.
Preliminary Card
Keita Nakamura over Li Jingliang
Nick Hein over Yusuke Kasuya
Naoyuki KOtani over Kajan Johnson
Shinsho Anzai over Roger Zapata
Follow me on Twitter @MMAwrasslinFan
