(PRESS RELEASE) -- UFC on FOX 5 invades primetime broadcast television this Saturday, Dec. 8 (8:00 PM ET) live from KeyArena in Seattle, WA. FOX Sports Media Group’s FOX Sports, FUEL TV, FOX Deportes, FOXSports.com and FOX Sports Radio have fans covered for this quadruple header of fights on the broadcast network highlighted by UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson facing top challenger Nate Diaz to determine the world’s greatest 155-pound fighter.
UFC announcers Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan call all bouts on FOX Sports including preliminary matches airing live on FX. Host Jay Glazer, Kenny Florian and Brian Stann offer analysis for preliminary bouts on FX with host Curt Menefee, Stann and Randy Couture handling analysis for fights on FOX Sports. Both shows originate from the FOX Network Center in Los Angeles, CA. Additionally, preliminary bouts air live on FSMG’s Spanish language network FOX Deportes with the UFC on FOX’s four fights airing live on MundoFOX. The UFC Postfight show on FUEL TV immediately follows UFC on FOX 5 on Saturday, Dec. 8 (10:00 PM ET), hosted by Glazer alongside analysts Stann and Florian with on-site interviews by Ariel Helwani.
UFC ON FOX 5: FSMG PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE
Wednesday, Dec. 5 11:00 PM ET EVENT Benson Henderson: RISING UP FUEL TV
Friday, Dec. 7 7:00 PM ET UFC on FOX 5 Weigh-In FUEL TV
Friday, Dec. 7 10:00 PM ET THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER 16: Episode 12 FX
Saturday, Dec. 8 5:00 PM ET Preliminary Fights FX / FOX Deportes
Saturday, Dec. 8 8:00 PM ET UFC on FOX 5
Lightweight Championship: Henderson vs. Diaz FOX / MundoFOX
Saturday, Dec. 8 10:00 PM ET UFC Postfight Show FUEL TV
Brian Stann & FLORIAN PREVIEW UFC ON FOX 5 - Benson Henderson HAS SIZE, WRESTLING ADVANTAGE – According to FUEL TV’s UFC TONIGHT analyst Kenny Florian and UFC on FOX analyst and current UFC middleweight Brian Stann, Benson Henderson has a size and wrestling advantage. “Benson Henderson’s larger size, strength, and wrestling skills will enable him to take Nate Diaz to the ground and neutralize his submission skills,” says Stann. “He’ll take a close, close decision. Nate looked like a guy on fire in his last couple of fights, but has struggled in the past with big guys.” Adds Florian: “These are two southpaws going at it who actually are very similar in styles, but they go about it a little differently. Henderson kicks often, where Diaz is a high volume boxer who likes to go forward. Both are excellent in the transition, with their jiu-jitsu, on the ground. Both are well known for their guillotines, and both are very hard to submit. Look for a 25-minute nonstop battle back and forth. Nate brings an extra amount of nasty every time he fights, but the difference will be Henderson’s wrestling.”
Brian Stann ON RUA/GUSTAFSSON – “I’m picking Alexander Gustafsson. His reach and footwork will frustrate Mauricio Rua and earn him a decision victory. He’s a talented striker, who is hard to hit. And Alexander Gustafsson’s reach means a lot. Shogun’s style is devastating with guys who don’t use their footwork but Alexander Gustafsson’s footwork is too good. Mauricio Rua figured out Lyoto Machida, so we’ll see if he can figure out Alexander Gustafsson.”
Kenny Florian ON PENN/MACDONALD – “This is going to be a beast of a fight. BJ Penn can win, but it has to be early in the fight, either in the first round or early in the second. He says he’s had the best camp of his career and sees this as a make-or-break fight. BJ, at 170 pounds gets tired as the fight goes on but he has knock-out power. Rory MacDonald will have to be careful, especially in the first round. MacDonald’s size and youth will be too much. MacDonald will grind it out in the third round.”