2012 is set to go out with a bang in December with a string of major MMA events to look forward to, including four from the UFC.
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Saturday, December 1st: BAMMA 11
The action begins this very evening with two European events, starting with BAMMA 11 in the UK.
In all honesty it’s not the most star-filled event we’ve ever seen from the promotion, but it does feature former British middleweight champion Jack Marshman Vs former UFC fighter Xavier Foupa-Pokam in the main event with UK celebrity Alex Reid also back in action against Sam Boo.
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Saturday, December 1st: KSW 21
Polish promotion KSW have a slightly stronger looking line-up than BAMMA, with talented middleweight Mamed Khalidov facing Kendall Grove in the headliner.
Further down the card ex-UFC vets Terry Martin and Matt Horwich square-off, while other fighters on-board who’ve previously competed in the Octagon include Rodney Wallace and Maciej Jewtuszko.
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Friday, December 7th: Bellator 83
Bellator’s penultimate event of their seventh season features the final of their featherweight tournament as Rad Martinez competes against Shahbulat Shamhalaev for the $100,000 prize money.
Woman’s 115lb champ Zoila Frausto is also back in action defending her title against Jessica Eye.
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Saturday, December 8th: ‘UFC On FOX 5: Henderson Vs Diaz’
Things really heat up next weekend with ‘UFC On FOX 5’ featuring a stacked main card headlined by a lightweight title fight between Ben Henderson and Nate Diaz.
Other major fights including Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua Vs Alexander Gustafsson and an eagerly awaited welterweight showdown between BJ Penn and Rory MacDonald ensures that this will be an event fight fans won’t want to miss.
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Friday, December 14th: ‘UFC On FOX 6: Pearson Vs Sotiropoulos’
The middle of the month sees the UFC going into overdrive with two TUF finales on two nights.
First up is the conclusion of the TUF: Smashes (Australia Vs UK) series. In addition to the TUF champion being crowned the show will also feature the season coaches Ross Pearson and George Sotiropoulos looking to settle their differences inside the Octagon.
The rest of the card is good too, including an excellent middleweight match-up between Rousimar Palhares and Hector Lombard, plus the return of featherweight fighter Chad Mendes.
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Friday, December 14th: Bellator 84
Bellator round off their seventh season with two tournament finals to wrap things up before they head over to Spike TV in January of next year.
Headlining is the heavyweight final featuring Christian M’Pumbu vs. Attila Vegh in addition to the conclusion of the lightweight tourney as Marcin Held goes up against Dave Jansen.
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Saturday, December 15th: ‘TUF 16 Finale’
The next evening it’s ‘The Ultimate Fighter 16’s’s finale to take center-stage as we find out who’ll be crowned the season’s winner.
Meanwhile Roy Nelson fights Matt Mitrione in the main event, and look out for Pat Barry Vs Shane Del Rosario plus Melvin Guillard Vs Jamie Varner elsewhere on the main card.
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Saturday, December 29th: UFC 155: Dos Santos Vs Velasquez
The UFC’s final event of the year comes on December 29th, and it’s a good one with a heavyweight title rematch between Junior Dos Santos and Cain Velasquez on headline duties.
This is a great card from top to bottom though, with Forrest Griffin Vs Phil Davis, Tim Boetsch Vs Costa Phillippou Jim Miller Vs Joe Lauzon and Yushin Okami vs Alan Belcher also featuring on the PPV line-up, while others such as Brad Pickett, Todd Duffee and Chris Leben feature in the prelims.
Monday, December 31st: DREAM 18 NYE Event
As tradition dictates, DREAM will round off the MMA calender for 2012 with their New Years Event in Japan.
As yet details are thin on the ground about who’ll actually be competing at this one, though it is known that they’ve joined forces with Golden Glory so expect a mixture of MMA and kickboxing bouts.
Former DREAM champ and Current ONE FC fighter Shinya Aoki is rumored to be earmarked for a spot on the card, while a fight between Phil Baroni and Hayato Sakurai has also been confirmed.
The kickboxing bouts may be the real treat here though with Golden Glory bringing an all-star line-up with the likes of Semmy Schilt, Peter Aerts, Gokhan Saki, Sergei Kharitonov, Errol Zimmerman and Daniel Ghita fighting in a Grand Slam tournament.
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Major MMA Events In December 2012 At A Glance:
- Saturday, December 1st: BAMMA 11
- Saturday, December 1st: KSW 21
- Friday, December 7th: Bellator 83
- Saturday, December 8th: ‘UFC On FOX 5: Henderson Vs Diaz’
- Friday, December 14th: ‘UFC On FOX 6: Pearson Vs Sotiropoulos’
- Friday, December 14th: Bellator 84
- Saturday, December 15th: ‘TUF 16 Finale’
- Saturday, December 29th: UFC 155: Dos Santos Vs Velasquez
- Monday, December 31st: DREAM 18 NYE Event
