Rousimar Palhares vs. Alan Belcher Added to UFC on Fox 3

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Feb 13, 2012 - Rousimar Palhares will fight on network television after all.

After turning down a primetime spot opposite Demian Maia at UFC on Fox 2, Palhares has agreed to meet Alan Belcher in a key middleweight tilt at UFC on Fox 3, slated for May 5 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. UFC President Dana White announced the match-up on Monday via Twitter.

The bout is expected to fill out the final slot of the four-fight Fox main card, which also includes Jim Miller vs. Nate Diaz, Josh Koscheck vs. Johny Hendricks, and Lavar Johnson vs. Pat Barry.

Both men are established Octagon veterans with a 15-6 combined promotional record, and have driven their name into title contention on the wings of recent three-fight win streaks.

At 31 years old, Palhares (14-3) cemented his reputation as MMA's fiercest leg lock practitioner by tapping out Mike Massenzio via heel hook in just 63 seconds at UFC 142, earning his second ‘Submission of the Night' bonus in the process. "Toquinho" has now tasted victory in six of his last seven contests, with four of those wins ending via kneebar or heel hook.

Likewise, Belcher (17-6) has proven to be one of the middleweight division's most devastating finishers, with 15 of his 17 wins staying out of the judges' hands. The 27-year-old standout recently returned from a 16-month layoff after undergoing emergency eye surgery in mid-2010, to blitz through Jason MacDonald en route to a first-round stoppage at UFC Fight Night 25. The win pushed Belcher's record to 5-1 over his last six fights, including ‘Submission of the Night' victories over Patrick Cote and Denis Kang.

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Comments

No disrespect to Alan

but I think Paul Harris deserves a bigger fight than that. Kudos to Belcher for taking it though. If I was a fighter this would be the 1 guy I would try to avoid short of the champ. Belcher was once a contender though so lets see what he can do.

by Bigs- on Feb 13, 2012 2:03 PM EST reply actions

I agree completely

I was hoping they’d give him someone in the top 10

I’m not resting until I’m officially Anderson Silva status.- Jon "Bones" Jones

by AfroSamurai on Feb 13, 2012 2:42 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

plus I don't wanna c either man lose

I’m not resting until I’m officially Anderson Silva status.- Jon "Bones" Jones

by AfroSamurai on Feb 13, 2012 2:43 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

everyone else is pretty much tied up.

by XingYi on Feb 13, 2012 3:48 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

It doesn't matter what your name is!! The Rock will take your roody-poo candy ass to the corner of Know your role Boulevard and Jabroni Drive and check you in to the smackdown hotel!! If you smell what The Rock is cookin'!!

by Garbanzo on Feb 13, 2012 3:25 PM EST reply actions 2 recs