Rousimar Palhares likely for UFC 142 lineup

With the UFC recently revealing their return to Brazil on January 14 after a very successful stop in Rio de Janeiro a few months ago, speculation has already started surrounding the question of who else might be fighting on the card alongside the pair of already-announced match-ups.

While nothing official is in place, it appears one of the names likely to surface for an appearance at UFC 142 is Brazilian Rousimar Palhares – a powerful, submission-savvy middleweight with an 11-3 record who came away with an impressive victory when the UFC last visited his home-country.

According to Palhares’ coach/manager, former UFC champion Murilo Bustamante, “Toquinho” is expecting to fight at the event and has even been approached about the possibility.

“The (UFC) haven’t said anything, but I believe he’ll be on that card. They’ve wondered about it, but they haven’t confirmed it. We’re hopeful”, he explained to Tatame. “He’s becoming such a popular fighter in Brazil and UFC has to use it on its favor, so we hope it can happen… I guess it’d be a flaw of UFC not to include a guy who was in such an amazing fight like he did in Rio, when he was chanted by the fans like he was”.

Palhares defeated the always-tough Dan Miller at UFC Rio after damaging him early and maintaining his attack after a strange sequence early on involving a faux finish followed by a celebration with a near knockout loss in the mix as well.

Palhares and Miller Nearly Steal the Show at UFC 134

UFC 142 is currently scheduled to be headlined by featherweight champion Jose Aldo putting his belt on the line against undefeated Californian Chad Mendes and will also feature Vitor Belfort battling former welterweight powerhouse Anthony Johnson.

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC