Although the main card always gets the most attention, UFC fanatics often look to the preliminary card with just as much excitement. In UFC 92, that won’t be any different as the preliminary card offers a lot of interesting matchups.

In the first of two heavyweight bouts on the preliminary card, Antoni Hardonk of the Netherlands takes on Mark Burch of the United States. Although Burch is a quality fighter, most eyes will be on Hardonk as he tries to build upon his wins in UFC 80 and UFC 85.

In the other heavyweight bout, Dan Evensen of Norway fights Pat Barry of the United States. Like Hardonk, Evensen is the more interesting fighter in this matchup. He’ll be looking to bounce back after a loss to Cheick Kongo in UFC 87. Coincidentally, Kongo will be fighting in UFC 92 in the main card.

The light heavyweight matchup features two Americans - Matt Hamill and Reese Andy. Hamill is a 32-year-old fighting out of Utica, New York, while Andy is a 35-year-old fighting out of Renton, Washington. Both of these fighters are looking for a win to take another step up the light heavyweight power rankings.

Yushin Okami of Japan takes on Dean Lister of the United States in the middleweight bout. Okami has won eight out of his last nine fights, including his last two in UFC 77 and UFC 82. Lister has won four out of his last five fights, including wins in UFC 60 and UFC 79.

The final matchup of the preliminary card has Ryo Chonan of Japan fighting Brad Blackburn of the United States. In this welterweight bout, Chonan will be fighting his third UFC fight after splitting his first two bouts. Blackburn, on the other hand, hasn’t lost a mixed martial arts fight since April 7th or 2007 - a span of five fights.

Tags: Mixed Martial Arts, MMA, UFC, ufc 92
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