Vitor Belfort vs. Michael Bisping Heads UFC in Brazil 12-Bout Fight Card

The Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday announced the full fight card for its Jan. 19 return to Brazil. A middleweight showdown between Vitor Belfort and Michael Bisping heads the card.

A location for the event isn’t quite ready to be revealed. The event will, however, be broadcast in Brazil exclusively by Channel Combat.

The UFC, as they did in 2012, is kicking off 2013 in Brazil in what will likely be the first of several events in the country throughout the year. There has been speculation that the promotion is targeting as many as 12 events in Brazil in 2013.

“As we had anticipated, 2013 will be a busy year for the Brazilian fans. We are very happy with this event on Jan. 19 that, just as we did in 2012, opens the calendar year of the UFC,” said Marshall Zelaznik, director UFC’s international development, before adding that they hope to announce the location “in the coming weeks.”

Belfort (21-10) is coming off of a loss to Jon Jones at UFC 152 in September. The Brazilian stepped up on short notice to challenge the light heavyweight champion after several other fighters turned down the opportunity.

Belfort now returns to middleweight and his home country to headline the show against Bisping (23-4).

The Englishman enters the fight hot on the heels of an important victory over Brian Stann, also on the UFC 152 fight card in Toronto. Bisping has been angling for a shot at middleweight champion Anderson Silva. A win over Belfort would certainly put him in contention for the shot.

UFC Brazil Full Fight Card for Jan. 19:

Main Card
-Vitor Belfort vs. Michael Bisping
-CB Dollaway vs. Daniel Sarafian
-Ben Rothwell vs. Gabriel Gonzaga
-Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Thiago Tavares

Preliminary card
-Godofredo Pepey vs. Milton Vieira
-Andrew Craig vs. Ronny Markes
-Nik Lentz vs. Diego Nunes
-Justin Salas vs. Edson Barboza
-Michael Kuiper vs. Thiago Bodão
-George Roop vs. Yuri Marajó
-Roger Hollett vs. Wagner Cauldron
-CJ Keith vs. Francisco Massaranduba

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