The UFC was in Toronto yesterday for the initial UFC 152 press conference and the organization has made three bouts official for the fight card on September 22nd from the Air Canada Centre.
Former Ultimate Fighter finalist Vinny Magalhaes returns to the UFC and will meet Igor Pokrajac in a light heavyweight bout, Jimy Hettes takes on Marcus Brimage in a featherweight bout and Simeon Thoresen takes on Seth Baczysnski in a welterweight contest.
Magalhaes (9-5, 1NC) lost to Ryan Bader in the finals of the eighth season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” Since being released by the UFC, he has won seven of his last eight fights and was the M-1 Global light heavyweight champion. Pokrajac (25-8) is a seven fight veteran of the UFC and is currently on a three fight winning streak. His UFC career started with two straight defeats, but has won four of his last five and three of those wins were by submission or knockout.
Hettes (10-0) has won his first two fights in the UFC and was scheduled to return at UFC on FX 4 in June, but an injury forced him off the card. His two UFC wins are against ALex Caceres and Nam Phan, with his victory over Caceres coming by submission. Brimage (5-1) was a contestant on “The Ultimate Fighter” during the 14th season and has won his first two official UFC fights. Both of his UFC wins are by decision with his most recent win coming at UFC 145 against Maximo Blanco.
Thoresen (17-2-1) recently made his UFC debut in April and got a submission victory in the second round over Besam Yousef. This was his 15th career win by submission and his last five wins are by submission. Baczynski (16-6) is an alum of “The Ultimate Fighter” and is on a three fight winning streak, since being resigned by the organization. Two of his three wins during this streak are by submission and is coming off a decision victory over Lance Benoist at UFC on FX 3.
UFC 152 takes place from the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on September 22nd with Joseph Benavidez taking on Demetrious Johnson for the first ever UFC flyweight title and tickets for this event go on sale this week.