UFC on FUEL TV 5 fight card primer: Main card

Bloody Elbow gives you a quick rundown of all of the main card fights taking place at UFC on FUEL TV 5 before the main event of Stefan Struve vs. Stipe Miocic.

By Mookie Alexander@mookiealexander Sep 29, 2012, 1:00pm EDT

Normally we provide you individual posts for each UFC fight, but with this being a smaller event on FUEL TV combined with some fighters you might not be familiar with, this primer will take on all of the main card fights before the main event of Stefan Struve vs. Stipe Miocic.

This three-hour show has 6 main card bouts in total, and the supporting cast to the night's main event is terrific. The co-main event features a former title challenger in Dan Hardy as well as some good ol' WEC action between Yves Jabouin and Brad Pickett. You can catch the main card live on FUEL TV at 4 PM ET/1 PM PT.

Dan Hardy (24-10, 1 NC) vs. Amir Sadollah (6-3) - Welterweights

It's safe to say that Hardy is very fortunate to still be in the UFC following 4 losses in a row (winning 0 rounds in total), but he's kept his job after KOing Duane Ludwig. This is his first fight in England since the Carlos Condit loss, and the former #1 contender is a considerable favorite in his hometown of Nottingham. Sadollah's fights have all taken place under the UFC banner, and the TUF 7 champion is looking to at least impress following consecutive lackluster showings against Duane Ludwig and Jorge Lopez, the latter of which he was fortunate to come away with the split decision. Hardy is more of a boxer, while Sadollah emphasizes Muay Thai, and holds the UFC record for most landed leg kicks in a UFC fight.

Yves Jabouin (18-7) vs. Brad Pickett (21-6) - Bantamweights

Nothing like some WEC fighters on the main card for some near-guaranteed entertainment. Jabouin has been in some outstanding fights in both the WEC and UFC, and in his last fight he drubbed Jeff Hougland in May. Finishing has been a problem for him, as his last one was in 2008. Pickett is a fan-favorite no matter the outcome of his fights, and he started 2012 brightly by submitting Damacio Page in Sweden. It was a bounce-back following a dramatic and thrilling loss to Renan Barao in one of the most entertaining rounds of 2011. Expect fireworks from the little guys in the sole 135 lbs fight of the card.

Paul Sass (13-0) vs. Matt Wiman (14-6) - Lightweights

In arguably the most intriguing fight besides the main event, triangle-choke specialist Paul Sass looks for yet another submission victory and the biggest win of his career. He's submitted all but one opponent including three in the UFC. While the 24-year-old is known of his "Sassangle", he's got great heel-hooks as well. Wiman hasn't fought since a FOTN win over Mac Danzig in October, but he's on a good run with 4 wins out of his last 5. His only loss was a disputed decision against Dennis Siver. Wiman has never been submitted, and Sass has never been defeated, so one of these things will almost certainly be gone tonight in Nottingham.

John Hathaway (16-1) vs. John Maguire (18-3) - Welterweights

It seems like John Hathaway has been the forgotten man since his upset win over Diego Sanchez in May 2010. A loss to Mike Pyle in front of his home fans derailed his momentum, and an unimpressive split decision win over Kris McCray saw him drop off the radar. He did pick up a win over Pascal Krauss earlier this year but hasn't finished a fight in over three years. Maguire has impressed in his short time in the UFC, rallying from an early knockdown to defeat Justin Edwards and then in April 2012 he earned an entertaining armbar submission win over DaMarques Johnson. This is definitely a fight where at least one John won't lose.

Duane Ludwig (21-13) vs. Che Mills (14-5, 1 NC) - Welterweights

Ludwig is a battle-tested kickboxing and MMA veteran with powerful hands, but he was beaten at his own game when Dan Hardy shut his lights off with a huge left hook. He's lost his last two and is probably on his last legs in both his UFC and MMA career. Mills started his UFC career with an emphatic KO of Chris Cope, but was stopped by Rory MacDonald at UFC 145. This is likely to be one of many entertaining striking matchups on the card.

More UFC on Fuel TV 5 preview coverage from Bloody Elbow:

UFC on Fuel 5 Fight Card - Tim Burke

UFC on Fuel Staff Predictions - Tim Burke

Dan Hardy vs. Amir Sadollah Dissection - Dallas Winston

Brad Pickett vs. Yves Jabouin Dissection - Dallas Winston

Paul Sass vs. Matt Wiman Dissection - Dallas Winston

John Hathaway vs. John Maguire Dissection - Dallas Winston

Duane Ludwig vs. Che Mills Dissection - Dallas Winston

Preliminary Card Preview - Fraser Coffeen

Stefan Struve's Bloody Path to Contention - Brent Brookhouse

5 Reasons to watch UFC on Fuel - T.P. Grant

Risk vs. Reward for Struve vs. Miocic - Fraser Coffeen