The last two UFC on Fox 5 cards have been lackluster, and there hasn't been a title fight on the network since the UFC's debut there. UFC on Fox 5 will change those two trends. USA Today reports the next network show will be on Dec. 8 at a site to be determined.
The three fights added to the show's slate:
-- Benson Henderson will defend his lightweight heavyweight (Ed. note -- Sorry, still recovering from Olympics) belt against Nate Diaz, who is riding a three-fight win streak. Diaz earned the title shot with a submission of Jim Miller in May.
-- In the co-main event, Alexander Gustafsson will fight Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. Gustafsson has five wins in a row at light heavyweight, but has been ignored by the UFC for a title shot. Perhaps a win over Shogun, who just beat Brandon Vera on the last Fox card, will do the trick.
-- B.J. Penn and Rory MacDonald's bout, which was postponed because of a cut MacDonald sustained in training, was rescheduled to this card.
With a title fight, a possible title contender's fight and the mainstream starpower of Penn, the UFC is giving Fox a welcome change from the less-than-thrilling recent cards. Though the UFC reported an increase in ratings from their May show to the August one, it was modest. The May show also experienced a steep drop-off in ratings from the two previous shows on Fox, so the improvement shown on the August show still didn't get the UFC anywhere near the four million viewers who watched the first two UFC on Fox shows.
Will you tune in? Tell us in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.
Dean Amasinger Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen Alex Andrade Jermaine Andrè
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