This weekend, the UFC makes its return to Brazil with UFC Fight Night 61. Headlined by Frank Mir and Antonio Silva, the card is heavy on local talent but has a lot of strong fighters competing in its matches.
In addition to Mir and Silva, names like Edson Barboza, Michael Johnson, Iuri Alcantara and Cezar Ferreira grace the card. All of them will be looking to push their stock through the ceiling, as the card will be on free TV.
Need a reason to tune in this Sunday? We will give you three reasons to watch this interesting card from Brazil.
Who Gets His Redemption?
Frank Mir and Antonio Silva have seen better days. Not long ago, both men were Top 10 fighters with title shots they had cashed in on. Now, they are fighting for their careers.
Mir is riding a four-fight skid and has been dominated in every bout he lost. The most dangerous submission artist in UFC history (if not MMA history) has shown his age and wear, which is why a win is a must here.
Silva hasn't won in three fights either and has looked increasingly suspect. The most recent of those setbacks was a quick knockout loss to Andrei Arlovski, which significantly set the Brazilian back.
Who gets his redemption? Find out Sunday night in a pivotal bout for both men.
Dark Horses at 155 Pounds
The co-main event of this event should be more publicized than it is. It's Edson Barboza vs. Michael Johnson, and it has the potential to be Fight of the Night and push a guy into title contention.
Both men are undoubtedly top-20 fighters and exciting at that. Barboza is a knockout machine who always looks improved, while Johnson is a wrestler who has really put together a nice stand-up game.
A win for either man may put him in the Top 10. With that, he would get bigger challenges and the potential to fight for a title sooner rather than later.
Khabilov is Back
Of all the fighters on the card, many fans are most excited for the return of Rustam Khabilov. He is truly one of the best young stars at lightweight and a future title contender.
Khabilov hasn't been seen since June when he gave Benson Henderson all he could handle before Khabilov had to succumb to a submission. Even in a losing effort, it was a performance that showed Khabilov has the skills to stick with the best in the division.
He takes on a tough opponent fighting on home turf in Adriano Martins. A win over this skilled veteran would establish Khabilov as a big threat in the division and get him back in the minds of fans.
