UFC Fight Night 53, 54 start time and schedule: Who is fighting on Fight Pass and FOX Sports 1, when, and why

It's (almost) time!

Get all the programming information you need with our Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fight day doubleheader preview. 22 bouts go down throughout Saturday (Oct. 4, 2014) beginning with UFC Fight Night 53: "Nelson vs Story" on UFC Fight Pass from inside the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.

Later in the evening, the action shifts over to FOX Sports 1 (FS1) as UFC Fight Night 54: "MacDonald vs. Saffiedine" gets underway live from the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Below are all the details you need regarding the international mixed martial arts (MMA) doubleheader fiesta:

UFC Fight Night 53

Who: Rick Story vs. Gunnar Nelson
When: Sat., Oct. 4, beginning at 12:10 p.m. ET on UFC Fight Pass
Where: Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden
How To Watch: UFC Fight Pass main card at 3 p.m ET. UFC Fight Pass "Prelims" at 12:10 p.m ET.
Live UFC Fight Night 53 results: Play-by-play coverage stream

Why It Matters: While this card is far from "stacked," UFC has put together an event brimming with prospects and potential future stars to keep an eye on.

Will this be the coming out party for Sweden's ALLSTARS Training Center? Four fighters -- not named Alexander Gustafsson -- step into the Octagon in front of their home crowd hoping to pick up big victories in their respective careers.

The other noteworthy bout is of course the headliner, which pits welterweight prospect Gunnar Nelson against UFC mainstay (and gatekeeper) Rick Story. The main event will answer the question of just how good Nelson is and can be, and if he is ready to face the elite competition the 170-pound division can offer.

New Blood:

-- Jan Blachowicz (vs. Ilir Latifi): 17-3, including seven submissions and four (technical) knockouts. Former KSW light heavyweight champion. Recently defeated Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Goran Reljic, and Houston Alexander.

-- Scott Askham (vs. Magnus Cedenblad): 12-0, including seven (technical) knockouts and two submissions. Former BAMMA and Cage Warriors veteran. Recently defeated Max Nunes.

-- Charles Rosa (vs. Dennis Siver): 9-0, including six submissions and three (technical) knockouts. Former CES veteran. Recently defeated Jake Constant.

-- Marcin Bandel (vs. Mairbek Taisumov): 13-2, including 12 submissions and one (technical) knockout. No noteworthy opponents yet.

Interest Level: 5/10

This international fight card is not meant to be as enthralling to the United States demographic, and that is why you see so many names you have likely never heard of, or have rarely seen. This card is meant for the Swedish fans in attendance and around the country to experience a UFC event featuring a plethora of homegrown talent as well as a bevy of UFC debutants.

While this card is not bursting with "name" recognition, the match ups seem to pique the interest of many in Stockholm, and that is really all that matters for overseas Fight Pass events.

Check out the full UFC Fight Night 53: "Nelson vs. Story" fight card below:

Fight Pass Main Event:

170 lbs.: Gunnar Nelson vs. Rick Story

Fight Pass Main Card (3 p.m. ET):

145 lbs.: Akira Corassani vs. Max Holloway
205 lbs.: Jan Blachowicz vs. Ilir Latifi
145 lbs.: Niklas Backstrom vs. Mike Wilkinson

Fight Pass "Prelims" (12:00 p.m. ET):

185 lbs.: Scott Askham vs. Magnus Cedenblad
170 lbs.: Nicholas Musoke vs. Alexander Yakovlev
145 lbs.: Dennis Siver vs. Charles Rosa
185 lbs.: Cathal Pendred vs. Gasan Umalatov
185 lbs.: Krzysztof Jotko vs. Tor Troeng
170 lbs.: Marcin Bandel vs. Mairbek Taisumov
170 lbs.: Ernest Chavez vs. Zubaira Tukhugov

Moving on!

UFC Fight Night 54

Who: Rory MacDonald vs. Tarec Saffiedine
When: Sat., Oct. 4, beginning at 10 p.m. ET on FS1
Where: Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
How To Watch: FS1 main card at 10 p.m ET. FOX Sports 2 (FS2) "Prelims" at 8 p.m ET. UFC Fight Pass "Early Prelims" at 7 p.m ET.
Live UFC Fight Night 54 results: Play-by-play coverage stream

Why It Matters: This card is not exactly stacked, either, but it is more suited for the Canadian audience and not necessarily the American fan base. Regardless, the event has quite a handful of intriguing match ups highlighting the two most recent TUF winners from Canada, a critical bantamweight pairing, and of course the welterweight main event between two of the divisions top contenders.

New Blood:

-- Roman Salazar (vs. Mitch Gagnon): 9-2, including three (technical) knockouts and three submission victories. Has not beaten any noteworthy competition.

-- Paul Felder (vs. Jason Saggo): 8-0, including six (technical) knockouts. Former CFFC lightweight champion. Recently defeated Julian Lane.

-- Chris Kelades (vs. Patrick Holohan): 7-1, including three submissions and two (technical) knockouts. Recently fought in Bellator. Has not beaten any noteworthy competition.

-- Matt Dwyer (Albert Tumenov): 7-1, including seven (technical) knockouts. Recently defeated DaMarques Johnson and Shonie Carter.

Interest Level: 7/10

The main event alone makes this card worth watching, but it is a plus that we will be treated to at least one other consequential bout tomorrow evening. Fans will finally get an answer as to whether or not Rory MacDonald is the legitimate No. 1 welterweight contender, and we will also bear witness to Raphael Assuncao and Bryan Caraway attempting to steal Dominick Cruz's thunder and in doing so, his title shot against TJ Dillashaw.

Enjoy!

Check out the full UFC Fight Night 54: "MacDonald vs. Saffiedine" fight card below:

UFC Fight Night 54 Main Event:

170 lbs.: Rory MacDonald vs. Tarec Saffiedine

UFC Fight Night 54 FOX Sports 1 Main Card (10 p.m. ET):
135 lbs.: Raphael Assuncao vs. Bryan Caraway
155 lbs.: Yosdenis Cedeno vs. Chad Laprise
185 lbs.: Bruno Santos vs. Elias Theodorou
170 lbs.: Jingliang Li vs. Nordine Taleb
135 lbs.: Mitch Gagnon vs. Roman Salazar

UFC Fight Night 54 FOX Sports 2 Preliminary Card (8 p.m. ET):

155 lbs.: Daron Cruickshank vs. Anthony Njokuani
155 lbs.: Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Jake Lindsey
155 lbs.: Paul Felder vs. Jason Saggo
125 lbs.: Chris Kelades vs. Patrick Holohan

UFC Fight Night 54 Fight Pass Preliminary Card (7 p.m. ET):
170 lbs.: Matt Dwyer vs. Albert Tumenov
135 lbs.: Pedro Munhoz vs. Jerrod Sanders

Be sure to check back in a few short hours as we get the live results for UFC Fight Night 53: "Nelson vs. Story" underway on Fight Pass at noon ET right here, followed by the results and discussion for UFC Fight Night 54: "MacDonald vs. Saffiedine" on FOX Sports 1 at 7 p.m. ET right here.

See you then!