UFC on Fuel 8 Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is back this weekend a high voltage MMA event set to take place on March 3, 2013 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan and headlined by multidivisional contenders Wanderlei Silva and Brian Stann.

Nicknamed "The Axe Murderer" and "Cachorro Louco" (Crazy Dog), Silva (34-12) will make his comeback in Japan after several years of absence. Silva, who fought in Japan for almost 7 years,  owns an impressive record of eighteen-straight fights won in Pride (18 wins, 13 KO’s) and developed a successful 5 year win record in the middle weight division (205 lb) of Pride.

Silva made his UFC comeback at UFC 79 against Cuck Lidell, losing to the “Ice Man” by unanimous decision.  However, he returned to victory with a decisive KO win against Keith Jardine at the 36-second mark of the first round at UFC 84, earning the Knockout of the Night honors.

Silva was stated to face Brian Stann at UFC 130, but after the Brazilain voiced his reluctance to face Stann, he was replaced on the card by UFC veteran Jorge Santiago. Stann defeated Santiago via TKO in the 2nd round after a right to the temple sent Santiago down and numerous strikes forced a stoppage.

The former U.S Marine Brian Michael Stann (12-5), made his official UFC debut against Krzysztof Soszynski at UFC 97 in Montreal, Canada, losing the fight in first round via tap out. Stann bounced back with consecutive wins over Steve Cantwell (UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs. Guillard) and Rodney Wallace (TUF 10 Finale), before losing to UFC newcomer Phil Davis at UFC 109 and dropping to the 185 lbs. Middleweight division.

Stann won his first ever submission victory, catching Mike Massenzio in a Triangle choke at UFC on Versus 2. Stann then fought in the co-main event of UFC 125, claiming a victory over Chris Leben with a first-round TKO stoppage. The former WEC champ then fought Chael Sonnen on October 8, 2011 at UFC 136 (loss via submission), Alessio Sakara at UFC on Fuel: Gustafsson vs. Silva (Win by K.O) and Micheal Bisping at UFC 152 (Loss by Unanimous decision).

UFC on Fuel 8 Main Card also features a heavyweight battle presenting Mark Hunt and Stefan Struve, a Lightweight contest pitting Takanori Gomi and Diego Sanchez, plus a featherweight combat between Mizuto Hirota and Rani Yahya. Finally, Yushin Okami takes on Hector Lombard in a middleweight fight.

Event Odds:
W. Silva (+215) vs. B. Stann (-275)
M. Hunt (+155) vs. S. Struve (-185)
T. Gomi (+175) vs. M. Lombard (-215)
M. Hirota (-120) vs. R. Yahya (-110)

MMA fans and bettors must note the fight will get started on Saturday at 9:00 PM ET due to the difference in time zones.

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