WIUFF: Travis Wiuff is a NCAA All-American wrestler from the University of Minnesota-Mankato and carries a 35-4 record in MMA. He is six-foot-two and has fought at 270 pounds, but he will be competing at light heavyweight for the first time in the UFC. “The Diesel” Wiuff fights out of the Lion’s Lair in Minneapolis, Minnesota and does much of his training with UFC veteran Dave Menne at Menne’s Combat Academy. He is an assistant coach for the Minnesota State High School League, but has also made the trip to Iowa to train with Pat Miletich and Team Extreme.

When he last competed in the UFC, Wiuff came in as a late replacement for the injured Frank Mir at UFC 40 and lost to Vladimir Matyushenko by strikes in the first round. Since that bout he has gone on an amazing 23-1 run over the last three years fighting in numerous events including the IFC, Rage in the Cage, Rumble on the Rock, the Mixed Fight Championships and the Jungle Fight event in Brazil.

Other than Matyushenko, his other losses are to UCC veteran and former Ken Shamrock training partner Mike Radnov at the Extreme Challenge 46, to UFC veteran Wesley Correira at Superbrawl 24 and to King of the Cage 10 tournament champion Kauai Kupihea at Rumble on the Rock 2. Over his career, Wiuff has beaten UFC veterans Travis Fulton (twice), Jason Godsey and Carlos Barreto. Recently he has made a name for himself in the newly developed Mixed Fighting Championships, defeating Russians Roman Zentsov and Ibragim Magomedov and Brazilian fighter Antoine Jaoude.

SOBRAL: Renato Sobral is a Brazilian National Wrestling Team member and the IFC Global Domination eight-man tournament champion (defeated Trevor Prangley, Mauricio Rua and Jeremy Horn in the same night). “Babalu” sports a 25-4 record in MMA and last fought on the same card as his opponent “The Diesel.” Sobral used to fight under the tutelage of UFC 7 tournament champion Marco Ruas as part of Ruas Vale Tudo with former title contender Pedro Rizzo. Renato, along with Gustavo Machado, Alexandre Ferreira, Alexandre Barros and others left RVT to join Gracie Barra.

Much of Sobral’s fighting history took place under RINGS rules (no striking to the head on the ground, quick stand-ups), but he’s faced some of the event’s best. He has beaten Mikhail Illoukhine, Kiyoshi Tamura (twice), Hiromitsu Kanehara and Tsuyoshi Kohsaka and lost decisions to Dan Henderson and Emelianenko Fedor. Sobral fought under the RINGS banner 13 times including participation in both King of Kings tournaments and advancing to the final bout of the 1999 tournament (lost to Henderson by decision).

Like many Brazilian fighters, Sobral started fighting in Vale Tudo events in his homeland. He defeated Carlson Gracie Team member Fernando “Basco” Cerchiari in the IVC 8 event and won the Circuito Brasileiro de Vale Tudo 5 eight-man tournament beating PRIDE veteran “The Pedro” Otavio in the process. During his stint with RINGS “Babalu” soccer kicked the head of UFC vet Brad Kohler and knocked him out at WEF 8.

In the UFC, he went the distance three times with a 2-1 record (beat Maurice Smith and Elvis Sinosic, lost to Kevin Randleman) before giving Liddell a little something for his highlight reel. He is 7-0 since being knocked out by Chuck Liddell at UFC 40, including decision wins Jeremy Horn and Jose Landi-jons.

MY PICK: This has the potential to be the fight of the night and steal the spotlight from one of the title bouts. Both guys have excellent records and belong at this level. Even the loser will likely get a call from PRIDE and wind up making more cash than the winner here. Sobral has fought the better competition but Wiuff has been more active. With Franklin moving back down to middleweight, a win here puts either fighter on the short list of opponents for the Liddell-Couture II winner. This is a tough call but I think “Babalu” comes out on top here by decision.