UFC 141 fight card: Manny Gamburyan vs Diego Nunes brings featherweight fury back to Las Vegas

Though the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight division isn't as deep as some of the other weight classes, it is still highly unlikely the promotion would keep someone around if they weren't performing.

Diego Nunes and Manny Gamburyan are looking to stay away from the proverbial axe by avoiding back-to-back losses inside the Octagon.

With nothing guaranteed, especially in the UFC, both featherweights look to prolong their stay with the world's preeminent mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion by earning a win at UFC 141 and impressing their Zuffa employers in the process.

Diego Nunes is coming off a valiant effort against seasoned veteran Kenny Florian at UFC 131 back in June. Florian was awarded the unanimous decision victory and earned a title shot against Nunes training partner, Jose Aldo. In the process, "The Gun" saw his three fight win streak come to an end.

Nunes hopes to bounce back and get another streak going against another former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) colleague, Manny Gamburyan, who is currently on a two fight skid.

After being knocked out by Jose Aldo in his final fight in the WEC organization, which was for "Junior's" 145-pound title, Gamburyan found his way back into the ranks of the UFC looking to make a better run than he had in his first go-round with the organization.

No such luck.

In his first fight back with the UFC, "Manvil" lost to Tyson Griffin via unanimous decision at UFC Live: "Kongo vs. Barry," picking up right where he left off.

Now, both featherweights look to stop their woes by earning a much needed victory this Friday (Dec. 30, 2011) at UFC 141: "Lesnar vs. Overeem." With their backs against the wall, expect Nunes and Gamburyan to fight their way out of a predicament fighters don't like to find themselves in: facing a possible pink slip.

Which featherweight will be guaranteed a spot in the UFC's roster and who will be hoping for another opportunity to prove they belong in 2012?

Be sure to join MMAmania.com this evening for LIVE, detailed UFC 141 results of all the "Lesnar vs. Overeem" PPV action. It will include blow-by-blow coverage of the Facebook video stream, Spike TV "Prelims" bouts, and of course, the PPV broadcast. We'll start RIGHT HERE at around 7 p.m. ET and carry straight on through early Saturday morning.

See you then!