An intriguing welterweight matchup between Mike Pyle (21-8-1 MMA, 4-3 UFC) and Paulo Thiago (14-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) is now official for UFC 142.
Additionally, a heavyweight affair between English slugger Rob Broughton (15-7-1 MMA, 1-2 UFC) and Brazilian newcomer Ednaldo Oliveira (13-0-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will also take place at the event. UFC execs today announced both contests.
UFC 142 takes place Jan. 14 at Rio de Janeiro's HSBC Arena.
Broughton may be fighting for his UFC life after suffering back-to-back decision losses to Philip De Fries and Travis Browne. "The Bear" made his promotional debut with a submission win over Brazilian giant Vinicius Kappke de Queiroz and was 7-1 in the eight fights that preceded his current slide.
Oliveira (whose first name sometimes is spelled "Edinaldo") made his pro debut in 2005 and has been a fixture on Brazil's regional circuit. The heavy-handed Brazilian has picked up eight knockouts in 13 career wins. Most recently, the 6-foot-7 fighter scored a first-round knockout of Nalzinho Novaes. He's fought six times in 2011 with a 5-0 record (and one no-contest due to an eye poke).
Pyle returns to action after a disappointing setback to red-hot prospect Rory MacDonald at UFC 133, which snapped a three-fight win streak. Those previous triumphs included Jesse Lennox, John Hathaway and Ricardo Almeida.
With 16 victories by way of tapout, Pyle doubles the submission output of Thiago, who most recently appeared at the UFC's long-awaited return to Brazil at UFC 134. To deafening fanfare, Thiago, a full-time police officer with a special anti-terrorist unit of the Brazilian police, outpointed David Mitchell. The win halted a two-fight skid to Martin Kampmann and Diego Sanchez, respectively.
Additionally, a heavyweight affair between English slugger Rob Broughton (15-7-1 MMA, 1-2 UFC) and Brazilian newcomer Ednaldo Oliveira (13-0-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will also take place at the event. UFC execs today announced both contests.
UFC 142 takes place Jan. 14 at Rio de Janeiro's HSBC Arena.
Broughton may be fighting for his UFC life after suffering back-to-back decision losses to Philip De Fries and Travis Browne. "The Bear" made his promotional debut with a submission win over Brazilian giant Vinicius Kappke de Queiroz and was 7-1 in the eight fights that preceded his current slide.
Oliveira (whose first name sometimes is spelled "Edinaldo") made his pro debut in 2005 and has been a fixture on Brazil's regional circuit. The heavy-handed Brazilian has picked up eight knockouts in 13 career wins. Most recently, the 6-foot-7 fighter scored a first-round knockout of Nalzinho Novaes. He's fought six times in 2011 with a 5-0 record (and one no-contest due to an eye poke).
Pyle returns to action after a disappointing setback to red-hot prospect Rory MacDonald at UFC 133, which snapped a three-fight win streak. Those previous triumphs included Jesse Lennox, John Hathaway and Ricardo Almeida.
With 16 victories by way of tapout, Pyle doubles the submission output of Thiago, who most recently appeared at the UFC's long-awaited return to Brazil at UFC 134. To deafening fanfare, Thiago, a full-time police officer with a special anti-terrorist unit of the Brazilian police, outpointed David Mitchell. The win halted a two-fight skid to Martin Kampmann and Diego Sanchez, respectively.
