Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will once again return to Spike TV for its upcoming UFC 136 "Prelims" telecast featuring bouts between Demian Maia vs, Jorge Santiago and Anthony Pettis vs. Jeremy Stephens.
UFC 136: "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" is scheduled to take place at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, on Oct. 8, 2011.
In Maia's last fight, he dropped a very close decision to Mark Munoz at UFC 131, despite showing a tremendous improvement in his stand-up game. Santiago, meanwhile, was brutally knocked out by Brian Stann in the second round of his last fight at UFC 130, which also served as his return to the promotion after spending several years on the Japanese circuit.
With these talented Brazilians coming off recent losses, it's pretty much guaranteed that both of them are out for redemption.
In the other featured fight, a lightweight showdown, Pettis makes his way down south following his Octagon debut against Clay Guida, a close fight that he lost via unanimous decision. Instead of pouting, though, "Showtime" took his lumps and used it as a learning experience.
Stephens, who has been fighting for just six years, but has already amassed 26 fights, has compiled a respectable record (7-5) 12 appearances inside the Octagon. "Lil' Heathen" has won his last two in a row, sending Marcus Davis out of the promotion and up to Canada and more recently disposing of Danny Downes.
Pettis, a former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) champion is a nice step up in competition for Stephens, who has often struggled against the more talented fighters in the division.
UFC 136 will feature the trilogy match between lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and number one division contender, Gray Maynard, in the main event of the evening. UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo will put his 145-pound title on the line again Kenny Florian in the co-featured fight of the night.
As if that weren't enough firepower for the main card, a veritable number one middleweight contender bout that pits a returning Chael Sonnen against "All American" Brian Stann is also going down in "Space City."
For all the latest UFC 136 news and notes -- and there are plenty -- be sure to check out our event archive right here.
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