Three-time WEC lightweight title challenger Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone fights for the fifth time this year when he steps into the cage on Friday night at UFC 141: “Lesnar vs Overeem” in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cerrone faces TUF 5 winner Nate Diaz in a bout that could propel one man into title contention.

While Cerrone has eyes on becoming the UFC Lightweight Champion, he is most focused on improving and continuing to get fights inside the Octagon, and he would like to fight again as soon as February of next year. He spoke with USA Today’s MMAjunkie.com on Tuesday about fighting Diaz.

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UFC lightweight contender Nate Diaz faces one of the toughest tests of his career this Friday night when he returns to action at UFC 141: “Lesnar vs Overeem” in Las Vegas, Nevada. Diaz battles former WEC title challenger Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in a bout that will serve as the co-main event.

Diaz is coming off of arguably his biggest win to date when he dominated and eventually submitted former long-time PRIDE champion Takanori Gomi in his return to 155 pounds at UFC 135 in September. He spoke with USA Today’s MMAjunkie.com on Tuesday about his matchup with Cerrone.

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Heavyweights Brendan “The Hybrid” Schaub and “Big” Ben Rothwell have verbally agreed to square off at UFC 145 on March 24, 2012 in Montréal, Québec, Canada. UFC officials announced the planned matchup on the promotion’s website today. Both fighters look to rebound from losses.

Schaub looked to be well on his way to a title shot after four straight wins inside the Octagon, but he was brutally knocked out by veteran Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira at UFC 134 in August. Rothwell has fought sparingly in recent years and has won just one of his three UFC bouts.

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A 115-pound women’s title bout between Carla Esparza and Angela Magana is in the works for MEZ Sports: “Pandemonium 6,” which takes place on March 3, 2012 in Riverside, California. The promotion officially announced plans for the matchup earlier today and verbal agreements are in place.

Esparza is coming off of one of her more impressive wins to date in her Xtreme Fighting Championships debut earlier this month. She outwrestled Felice “Lil’ Bulldog” Herrig to earn a Unanimous Decision victory. Magana has won five of her past six, with two quick submission wins this year.

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An injury has forced British submission specialist Paul Sass out of his bout with lightweight contender Evan Dunham at UFC on FOX 2 on January 28, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. Minnesotan Nik “The Carny” Lentz has stepped in to face Dunham on the card. UFC officials confirmed the change Monday.

Dunham rebounded from the first two professional setbacks of his career by outpointing Shamar Bailey in September. Lentz had his seven-fight UFC unbeaten streak snapped earlier this month when he dropped a close but Unanimous Decision to Canadian Mark Bocek at UFC 140 in Toronto.

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Top prospect Marianna “The Crushen Russian” Kheyfets steps back into the XFC cage at Xtreme Fighting Championships 16: “High Stakes” on February 10, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. The 26-year-old battles Jackson’s MMA standout Heather “Hurricane” Clark. XFC officials announced the bout today.

Kheyfets has yet to taste defeat in her mixed martial arts career and has risen up the 125-pound ranks with four victories since making her pro debut 17 months ago. Clark brings an impressive four-fight winning streak into her XFC debut and sports a brutal ten-second knockout victory on her résumé.

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Former Strikeforce heavyweight contender Chad “The Gravedigger” Griggs makes his Octagon debut against unbeaten prospect Travis “Hapa” Browne at UFC 145 on March 24, 2012 in Montréal, Québec, Canada. UFC officials announced the heavyweight tilt on the promotion’s website earlier today.

The bout joins a previously announced welterweight clash between rising star Rory “Ares” MacDonald and British striker “Beautiful” Che Mills on the card. MacDonald returns to action in his native Canada after injuries kept him out of the cage for part of 2011 and looks for this third straight win.

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Voting is now underway for the 2011 Women’s Mixed Martial Arts Awards and this year’s edition again features over a dozen categories. Awards will recognise notable achievements made by fighters, promotions and other individuals associated with the sport over the course of the past year.

Members of seven different mixed martial arts publications compiled this year’s awards. A full list of all categories and nominees, as well as fight videos for best fight, knockout and submission, is available below. Winners in each of the categories will be announced at the end of December.

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