UFC ready to invade Japan this weekend with stacked UFC 144 lineup

By: Jack Burton Posted On: February 20, 2012 at 3:30pm

If fans in Japan weren’t already aware that the UFC was headed to their region for UFC 144 they certainly are now thanks to a well-produced promotional preview of the February 25 event recalling some of the nation’s classic monster-oriented Sci-Fi films.

Showing a giant Octagon descending on the city of Saitama, where the event takes place, the message is simple. In the words of Bruce Buffer, “It’s tiiiiiiiiiiime!”

After more than a decade away from Japan, the UFC has returned with an amazing card including a PPV portion with seven scintillating scraps including a headlining title-fight between lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and streaking contender Benson Henderson.

Henderson: “This fight is going to be good. It’ll be like two cats trapped inside of a bag.”

Other bouts include a Fight of the Night prospect in Joe Lauzon-Anthony Pettis, Yoshihiro Akiyama’s welterweight debut against apt adversary Jake Shields, the fireworks of heavyweight sluggers Cheick Kongo-Mark Hunt, always-tough middleweights Yushin Okami and Tim Boestch tussling, a contendership-determining clash between featherweights Bart Palaszewski-Hatsu Hioki, and fan-favorite Quinton Jackson looking to render Ryan Bader into a puddle of goo.