(Wouldn’t mind seeing more of this from "The Crow.")
– David “The Crow” Loiseau is coming back to the UFC this spring, most likely against Ed Herman at UFC 97 in Montreal. Loiseau has racked up a three-fight win streak of late, besting TUF alum Solomon Hutcherson in September, and before that he made the rounds in EliteXC, Art of War, and other organizations since being bounced from the UFC following a loss to Mike Swick in 2006. Apparently, the UFC thinks nothing of sending you packing until they need a token Canadian or two for their Montreal show.
– Matthew Riddle is also getting back in action, agreeing to a bout with Steve Bruno at UFC Fight Night 17 in February. You might remember Bruno as the guy who did us all a favor and rid the UFC of “The Hater Hurter” at the Fight For The Troops. Whatever else he does with his life, he’ll always have that.
– Jim Miller has agreed to face Gray Maynard at UFC 96 in a lightweight showdown that all the hardcores will have their eye on. Maynard’s been wrestling his way to victory lately, notching three straight decision wins, but Miller is the jiu-jitsu dynamo who put Matt Wiman through the ringer at F2T2 despite taking the fight on short notice. Either this will be the exciting match that finally sorts out the pretenders from the contenders in the lightweight class, or else Maynard will win another boring decision.
– Also looking likely for UFC 96 is an intriguing bout between welterweights Dustin Hazelett and Ben Saunders. Hazelett twisted Tamdan McCrory’s arm all out of shape at UFC 91, and Saunders tore Brandon Wolff’s face to shreds with knees at F2T2. At 7-0-2, Saunders has earned a step up in competition. Hope his submissions defense is up to speed. He’s going to need it.
I do believe the Hazelett vs. Saunders match will be an electric match to say the least! Hazelett goes “balls-out” everytime he steps in the ring, and never has a boring fight. And the last fight Saunders had was pretty aggressive. Both elements combined make me look for a first round win by one of the two. However, this match will truly test Ben Saunders in MMA as Hazelett will come prepared to dominate his opponet.