USA TODAY: MMAjunkie.com's under-the-radar fights to watch at UFC 160

In today’s edition of USA TODAY, the MMAjunkie.com staff gives its picks for under-the-radar fights that are worth watching at Saturday’s UFC 160 event.

Dann Stupp (@MMAjunkieDann), editor-in-chief
• Fight: Glover Teixeira vs. James Te Huna
• How to watch: Pay-per-view main card (10 p.m. ET)
• The skinny: Although the heavyweight co-headliners and the lightweight title eliminator have gotten much of the attention, Teixeira (20-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) and Te Huna (16-5 MMA, 5-1 UFC) provide a stellar light-heavyweight matchup on UFC 160's PPV card. Teixeira has won 18 consecutive fights (16 by stoppage), including a recent victory against ex-champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Teixeira could pick up another high-quality win if he gets by fellow slugger Te Huna, who sports a solid four-fight UFC winning streak. Contenders are already lined up for champ Jon Jones, but Teixeira or Te Huna could get in the mix with an impressive win.

Steven Marrocco (@MMAjunkieSteven), staff reporter
• Fight: Donald Cerrone vs. K.J. Noons
• How to watch: Pay-per-view main card (10 p.m. ET)
• The skinny: Noons (11-6 MMA, 0-0 UFC) was on the wrong end of a questionable judges’ call when he fought Ryan Couture in Strikeforce’s final event. He wasn’t shown the door when the promotion’s talent crossed over to the UFC, but he gets a stiff first test against Cerrone (19-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC), who has only lost to title contenders and champions. Noons could find his career revitalized — or in danger of an unrecoverable dive. Both fighters are strikers, so this one should pit Noons’ punch-heavy approach against Cerrone’s kicks and elbows.

Matt Erickson (@MMAjunkieMatt) assistant editor
• Fight: Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Abel Trujillo
• How to watch: FX-televised prelims (8 p.m. ET)
• The skinny: Nurmagomedov (19-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC), a two-time World Combat Sambo Federation champ from Russia, has taken the UFC’s lightweight division by storm. With a propensity for violently slamming foes to the mat, he’s likely to quickly go after Trujillo (10-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC). But in Trujillo’s December UFC debut, he excelled at staying on his feet vs. standout wrestler Marcus LeVesseur. Can he do it against more seasoned and unbeaten Nurmagomedov?

Ben Fowlkes (@BenFowlkesMMA), columnist
• Fight: Mike Pyle vs. Rick Story
• How to watch: FX-televised prelims (8 p.m. ET)
• The skinny: Pyle (24-8-1 MMA, 7-3 UFC) is closing in on 40 with nearly 14 years of experience in the sport, but he seems to have suddenly found a groove. Is that enough to stop Story (15-6 MMA, 8-4U FC) — still the only fighter to beat top welterweight contender Johny Hendricks — and add to his three-fight winning streak? If so, Pyle might make noise in what is becoming one of the toughest weight classes in which to get noticed.

John Morgan (@MMAjunkieJohn), lead staff reporter
• Fight: Brian Bowles vs. George Roop
• How to watch: Facebook-streamed prelims (6:35 p.m. ET)
• The skinny: A former World Extreme Cagefighting bantamweight champion, Bowles (10-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) has been sidelined for more than 18 months while battling through injuries and rediscovering his love for the sport. He faces Roop (13-9-1 MMA, 3-5 UFC), a lengthy 135-pounder who is always a tough matchup. Bowles has fought to a decision once in his career; Roop has seen four of his last six fights end by KO, two with his hand raised, two without. Expect fireworks.

For more on UFC 160, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Donald Cerrone)