6 fights announced for UFC 128..

[Kris P Lettus]

Jeff Sherwood | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

Surging lightweight contender Jim Miller will lock horns with World Extreme Cagefighting veteran Kamal Shalorus in a featured matchup at UFC 128 “Shogun vs. Evans” on March 19 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Half a dozen fights are now official for the event, which will air live on pay-per view.

An AMA Fight Club representative, Miller will carry a six-fight winning streak into the match. The 27-year-old Sparta, N.J., native last appeared at UFC 124 in December, when he submitted Brazilian prospect Charles Oliveira with a first-round kneebar at the Bell Centre in Montreal. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Miller has delivered more than half (11) of his 19 career victories by submission. The only two blemishes on his resume have come in unanimous decision defeats to current UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and the unbeaten Gray Maynard. Miller owns a stellar 8-1 mark inside the Octagon.

Shalorus has not fought since he eked out a split decision against International Fight League veteran Bart Palaszewski at WEC 53 in December. Partial to wild, winging exchanges, the Iranian-born lightweight brings heavy hands into the cage, along with international wrestling experience. Two of Shalorus’ nine professional bouts have ended in draws, including his controversial June encounter with former WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner.

A light heavyweight title bout pairing champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua with the world-ranked Rashad Evans will headline UFC 128, along with a pivotal bantamweight duel pitting former WEC titleholders Urijah Faber and Eddie Wineland against one another. The event will also play host to a pair of lightweight matchups -- Edson Mendes Barboza Jr. vs. Anthony Njokuani and Kurt Pellegrino vs. Gleison Tibau -- and a key bantamweight battle between Joseph Benavidez and Ian Loveland.

UFC 128 “Shogun vs. Evans”
Saturday, March 19
Prudential Center
Newark, N.J.

UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
Mauricio Rua vs. Rashad Evans

Urijah Faber vs. Eddie Wineland
Jim Miller vs. Kamal Shalorus
Edson Mendes Barboza Jr. vs. Anthony Njokuani
Kurt Pellegrino vs. Gleison Tibau
Joseph Benavidez vs. Ian Loveland
* Nate Marquardt vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama
* Brendan Schaub vs. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic
* Ricardo Almeida vs. Mike Pyle
* Dan Miller vs. Nick Catone
* Luis Artur Cane Jr. vs. Karlos Vemola

* Not Official

Looks like another solid card from the UFC..

[Loose Cannon]

good card. even though he really sucks now, I still enjoy watching Cro Cop fight.

[Kris P Lettus]

Really looking forward to Shogun/Rashad.. Don't really know which way to lean on that one, but I know it's gonna be a great fight..

[IC Champion]

Really looking forward to Shogun/Rashad.. Don't really know which way to lean on that one, but I know it's gonna be a great fight..

Well if the fight stays standing the choice is fairly obvious.

[Next Big Thing]

The cards from both the UFC and Strikeforce for the next four months are shaping up nicely.

I think the best part about the new year is the fact that we have an entire year of new fights, fighters and matches to watch/ bitch about to each other.

[Kris P Lettus]

Well if the fight stays standing the choice is fairly obvious.

Rashad is a viscious striker too..

[IC Champion]

I wouldn't call him a vicious striker the way I would Shogun. Rashad was scared to exchange with Machida, and when he did got knocked out. Plus Rashad has a suspect chin, he got grazed by Rampage and went down, and was probably lucky Rampage wasn't able to follow it up with any signifigant offense.

[IC Champion]

If Evans cant get Shogun down cleanly and gets in the clinch up against the cage, it get turn real bad real quick for Rashad.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Depends what kind of health Shogun is in. He's had to deal with so many injuries, but Shad is dealing with a hell of a layoff too. All things considered equal, if the same Rua who fought Machida both times and the same Rua who fought Chuck comes to fight Rashad, then he'll tool him. But if he's coming in struggling from injuries like he did against Griffin and Coleman, Shad's going to capitalize and outwork him.

[Confused]

Depends what kind of health Shogun is in. He's had to deal with so many injuries, but Shad is dealing with a hell of a layoff too. All things considered equal, if the same Rua who fought Machida both times and the same Rua who fought Chuck comes to fight Rashad, then he'll tool him. But if he's coming in struggling from injuries like he did against Griffin and Coleman, Shad's going to capitalize and outwork him.

Aye, if Shogun is fit and focused I see the fight being over within the first 2 rounds.

[Krimzon7]

I am a Muay Thai guy in my heart. And because of that, I love Shogun.

But Suga is my motherfucking guy. and he will box/wrestle Rua to the ground. Rashad is a goddamn athlete, and my HEART is pulling for him to out range, out box and then out wrestle Shogun.

On top of that, the rest of this card is definitely FAP WORTHY!

Running for my bottle of jergens

[Fignuts]

What is the status of Mirco's contract? Thought he only had 3 fights on it, since his return, but he's had more than that.

Also, not really sure what to make of Cro Cop anymore. It's certainly not debatable that he isn't what he used to be, but just when I think he is completely washed up, he pulls out a win.

[The Mask]

he only beats jobbers pretty much. i think european fighters get a slightly easier ride too since i imagine they bump up the buyrates in their respective countries.

[Next Big Thing]

If Akiyama loses to Marquardt is he done? Every fight he's been in has been Fight of the Night and Bisping, Leben and a pissed off Nate Marquardt aren't necessarily the easiest of opponents. Plus he's fairly popular.

Same question with Cro Cop. I know it would only be his second straight loss, but if Cro Cop comes out flat against Brendan like he was against Mir, do you think Dana will release him?

It's evident that the Cro Cop of now is not the Cro Cop of the Pride days, but at the same time, the heavyweight division is thin right now.

Did Aldo run Faber out of the 145 division or is he just experimenting at bantamweight?

[Krimzon7]

Aldo stole Faber's soul via leg kicks. Faber is now in Bantamweight limping around.

[Kris P Lettus]

I dunno how he had 10 lbs to lose..

[Krimzon7]

weight cut via appendectomy!

[The Show Off]

Well if the fight stays standing the choice is fairly obvious.

It won't Rashad has good takedowns and Rua's main weakness is his takedown defense.

[Krimzon7]

Show Off, that's a good point. The only problem in my boy Suga's game is that he has trouble keeping people down. I would love to see a great double leg shot, some GNP and a TKO finish (PURE FANBOY HERE-NO ANALYTICAL VALUE IN THIS POST).