Edwards-Stumpf, Brown-Cope Slated for UFC 143 in Las Vegas

Matt Brown returns to action against Chris Cope on Feb 4. | Photo: Dave Mandel

Going down from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, UFC 143 is headlined by an interim welterweight title collision pitting Nick Diaz against Carlos Condit. The main draw airs live on pay-per-view and also features a pivotal heavyweight matchup between Roy Nelson and Fabricio Werdum.

Edwards, 28, has lost in two of his last three Octagon outings, though his defeats have been hard-fought affairs. Most recently, “The Ultimate Fighter 13” veteran dropped a back-and-forth unanimous decision on Nov. 5 to debuting Brit John Maguire.

Also 28, Stumpf returned to active competition in May after spending over two years away from the cage. The welterweight now looks to rebound from a submission defeat in his Octagon debut to T.J. Waldburger. Prior to that Sept. 17 loss via triangle choke, Stumpf had won five of his last six fights.

A product of Matt Hume’s AMC Pankration, Brown has lost four of his last five fights. “The Immortal” has gone 1-1 in 2011, outpointing John Howard before falling by submission to Seth Baczynski at UFC 139 on Nov. 19.

Like Edwards, Cope is a veteran of “TUF 13,” making his promotional debut at the live season finale in June. After besting fellow cast mate Chuck O’Neil, “C-Murder” was finished quickly by Che Mills in his most recent outing, falling by knockout in just 40 seconds at UFC 138.