UFC 128 gets three more contests, including Joseph Benavidez vs. Ian Loveland
With the UFC's return to New Jersey official, the promotion is wasting little time filling out the night's fight card.
UFC brass initially announced "UFC 128: Shogun vs. Evans" would feature Mauricio "Shogun" Rua vs. Rashad Evans and Urijah Faber vs. Eddie Wineland.
The UFC has since upped the ante with the release of previously reported contests of Kurt Pellegrino vs. Gleison Tibau and Edson Barboza vs. Anthony Njokuani, as well as a new fight between Joseph Benavidez and Ian Loveland.
"UFC 128: Shogun vs. Evans" takes place March 19 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Pellegrino (15-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC) recently saw a four-fight win streak snapped with a unanimous-decision loss to George Sotiropoulos back in July. Prior to the loss, Pellegrino, who's been sidelined by his recovery from knee surgery, posted submission wins over Rob Emerson and Fabricio Camoes and decision victories over Thiago Tavares and Josh Neer.
Tibau (21-7 MMA, 7-5 UFC) entered the title picture with a recent 4-1 run in the UFC that saw wins over the likes of Jeremy Stephens, Caol Uno and Neer. But in his most recent bout at UFC Fight Night 22, the American Top Team product suffered a decision loss to division standout Jim Miller.
Barboza (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) burst on to the UFC scene at November's "UFC 123: Rampage vs. Machida." The 24-year-old used a devastating arsenal of low kicks to chop down replacement opponent Mike Lullo. After dropping his opponent a handful of times with the vicious low attacks, Barboza was granted a third-round TKO win in the preliminary bout.
The win was Barboza's seventh straight victory to open his career, and all seven wins have come via stoppage.
Njokuani (13-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) makes his first appearance in the UFC's octagon after fighting seven times for the promotion's recently merged sister organization, the WEC. A striking specialist, Njokuani earned four wins for the WEC, and all four came via TKO.
Njokuani fought most recently at "WEC 52: Faber vs. Mizugaki," where he earned a second-round TKO of Edward Faaloloto with a vicious standing elbow strike.
Benavidez (13-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) makes his UFC debut after a seven-fight run in the WEC. The Team Alpha Male fighter earned a 5-2 mark in the WEC's bantamweight division, and his lone losses came against the UFC's first 135-pound champion, Dominick Cruz.
Benavidez fought most recently in November when he earned a submission win over Wagnney Fabiano.
Loveland (14-7 MMA, 1-0 UFC) made his UFC debut with a unanimous-decision win over WEC import Tyler Toner. "The Barn Owl" currently carries a seven-fight win streak. A three-time veteran of the now-defunct International Fight League, Loveland has earned 12 of his 14 career wins via stoppage.
