(Using so-phisticated technology, Jurassic Park scientists were able to extract the preserved blood from Munoz’s bone spurs and BINGO! Dino DNA. Photo via Munoz’s Twitter.) 

Fact: Chris Weidman hits so hard that his victims often fail to quantify the force of his punches until weeks and sometimes months after they’ve been hit. Just ask middleweight contender Mark Munoz, who received such a vicious beating at the hands of Weidman last July that his bones began to disintegrate over the course of the year in an attempt to deal with the shock. Hell, even Weidman’s body cracked under the pressure of possessing two pipe bombs for hands. So it’s quite fitting that, almost a year to the day after their clash at UFC on FUEL 4, both Weidman and Munoz have been booked to return to action at UFC 162. 

While Weidman is already scheduled to face off against Anderson Silva for the middleweight title in the evening’s main event, Munoz will taking on the man Weidman was expected to face at UFC 155, Tim Boetsch.

If you recall, Weidman’s teammate, Costa Phillipou, quickly stepped in as a replacement against Boetsch at UFC 155 and managed to successfully cut “The Barbarian’s” title hopes right out from under him with a series of eye pokes and headbutts that were eventually declared a third round TKO. Prior to the loss, Boetsch had racked up 4 straight wins in the middleweight division over the likes of Hector Lombard and Yushin Okami among others. Will ring rust play a factor in Munoz’s return to the octagon, or will Boetsch launch himself right back into the short list of contenders at middleweight with a win here?

Munoz vs. Boetsch is just one of several exciting matchups to be announced within the past few hours, so join us after the jump to check out the chronologically-sorted list.

(“I don’t do anything but go forward and punch people. That’s what people want to see.” Photo via Getty Images)

For several Strikeforce veterans transitioning to the UFC, last month’s “Aldo vs. Edgar” event was their opportunity to sink or swim. Hard-charging lightweight Isaac Vallie-Flagg — who had scored wins over Brian Melancon and Gesias Cavalcante during his Strikeforce stint — was given a stiff test against Yves Edwards during the UFC 156 FX prelims broadcast. And though most casual fans probably weren’t familiar with him before the match started, they certainly took notice after Vallie-Flagg’s gritty performance netted him a split-decision victory. Not bad for a 2-1 underdog.

With his spot on the UFC roster somewhat more secure, we called the Jackson’s MMA product last week to learn a little more about his Octagon debut, and his path from teenage troublemaker to new factor in the UFC lightweight division. Enjoy, and please follow Isaac on twitter @IKEVF.

CAGEPOTATO.COM: Let’s talk about your most recent fight, against Yves Edwards. I heard afterwards that you had the flu or something. Did that start coming on before the fight?
ISAAC VALLIE-FLAGG: Yeah, it was actually really funny. Joe Stevenson is a good friend of mine, and he was coming to help me cut weight. And he shows up and gives me this gigantic hug because I haven’t seen him in a little while, and then he goes, “I’m really sick dude, I’ve got the flu.” And I say, “Joe, why did you touch me?” I was hoping that I could fight it off, but I already had kind of a bigger weight cut getting down, because I was really heavy when I got the call, and my body just couldn’t take it. I started to cough Wednesday, and by Thursday and Friday I knew I was sick. I was just trying not to let it get in my head. And afterwards, as soon as I stepped out of the cage, it’s like my body told me to chill out and get some rest.

How much did that affect you during the fight? You still looked strong in the third round — if anything, it looked like Yves was fading, not you. Do you think you could have pushed harder and gotten a finish if you weren’t sick?
I don’t know if I would have finished Yves, but I would have punched a lot more. I’ve watched the fight a few times and I wasn’t happy with how upright I was, and I wasn’t throwing all the combinations that I wanted to.

Did you find yourself affected by the so-called “Octagon jitters,” where the adrenaline dump wears you out when you’re fighting in the UFC for the first time?
It’s funny, because everybody was like, “Oh man, this is the big show, and you’re gonna freak out,” but I felt more comfortable fighting in the UFC than I have any time before. I really felt like I was fighting where I should have been fighting the whole time.

(Bobby Green vs. Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennet at KOTC – Fight 4 Hope.)

For obvious reasons, the main focus of Saturday night’s UFC 156: Aldo vs. Edgar card is on both the headlining title fight and the title implications of an Alistair Overeem win, but that is not to say that there aren’t plenty of intriguing matchups to be had on the undercard as well. Featuring the UFC debuts of a couple Strikeforce veterans and an undefeated Hawaiian prospect, UFC 156 promises to deliver from top to bottom, so join us after the jump to get the inside scoop on all of the unfamiliar faces that will be stepping into the octagon Saturday night.

(Green vs. Dan Lauzon at Affliction: Day of Reckoning.) 

Bobby “King” Green (LW)