UFC on FUEL TV 5 fight card primer: Preliminary card

A brief rundown of all preliminary card fights for today's UFC on FUEL TV event in Nottingham, England.

By Mookie Alexander@mookiealexander Sep 29, 2012, 12:00pm EDT

Normally Bloody Elbow provides you individual fight card primers for every fight, but because this is a FUEL show with fighters you might not be familiar with, this preliminary card preview will be done all in one post. In total there are 5 bouts on the prelims, which are scheduled to air live on the UFC's Facebook page at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT before the main card kicks off at 4 PM ET/1 PM PT on FUEL TV.

Kyle Kingsbury (11-4, 1 NC) vs. Jimi Manuwa (11-0) - Light Heavyweights

"Kingsbu" is probably fighting for his UFC job after losing in dominant fashion to Stephan Bonnar and Glover Teixeira. Manuwa is a Nigerian-born Englishman who once turned down a UFC contract in 2010 because he felt he wasn't ready for it yet. He's the Ultimate Challenge LHW champion with lethal striking and has finished all of his fights (10 KO/TKOs, 1 submission).

Akira Corassani (9-3, 1 NC) vs. Andy Ogle (8-1) - Featherweights

Corassani was a TUF semifinalist on season 14, and is most famous for appearing to tap to a Dustin Neace heel-hook, but Herb Dean didn't consider it a stoppage and he'd go on to beat Neace. Dennis Bermudez ended his dream by choking him unconscious, and now he's finally making his UFC debut after twice pulling out due to injury in prior fights. The Englishman Ogle was a semifinalist on TUF: Live, losing to eventual runner-up Al Iaquinta by KO. He was damaged enough for him to not have medical clearance to compete on the season finale. He hasn't fought professionally since November, but he's fought 3 times this year on TUF alone.

Brad Tavares (8-1) vs. Tom Watson (15-4) - Middleweights

In a battle of two young prospects, Tom "Kong" Watson is finally in the UFC having won 11 of his last 12 fights. He's the former BAMMA middleweight champion who holds wins over John Maguire, Matt Horwich, and Murilo Rua. Tavares is only 24, a TUF 11 semifinalist, and his lone defeat was an unwatchable wall-and-stall mess against Aaron Simpson. This is a very intriguing fight and Watson is one of many English talents on display in Nottingham.

Robert Peralta (15-3, 1 NC) vs. Jason Young (9-5) - Featherweights

This could very well be the sleeper pick for Fight of the Night. Young has been incredibly entertaining in all of his UFC fights, and he was thrown to the wolves by fighting Dustin Poirier and Michihiro Omigawa back-to-back. He sent Eric Wisely out of the UFC this past April. Peralta is unbeaten in his last 9, although his last fight against Mackens Sermerzier was ruled an NC due to an accidental headbutt. They both love to strike and this should be a barn-burner.

DaMarques Johnson (16-11) vs. Gunnar Nelson (9-0-1) - Catchweight (183 lbs)

The only fight affected by injury was this one. Originally Icelandic prospect Gunnar Nelson was scheduled to fight Pascal Krauss, but when Krauss was injured Rich Attonito stepped in. Concerns of making 170 lbs forced Attonito out and in stepped TUF 9 runner-up Johnson at a 175 lbs catchweight. Obviously it didn't matter because DaMarques missed by miles. Despite being on a two-fight losing streak Johnson should be safe from a release by taking this fight so late. Nelson is a submission specialist while Johnson prefers to use his KO power (although Johnson submitted Mike Guymon and Edgar Garcia in the UFC). Johnson has never gone the distance in the UFC and Nelson's draw is the only time he's been to a decision. Basically, this will be finished one way or another.

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