Strikeforce heavyweight contender Fabricio “Vai Cavalo” Werdum is likely to make his return to the Octagon at UFC 143 on February 4th in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace is expected to face Roy “Big Country” Nelson on the card. MMAWeekly.com first reported the bout earlier today.

Werdum won three of his four Strikeforce fights after departing the UFC in late 2008. His most notable victory during that time came in the form of a shocking submission of Fedor Emelianenko in June 2010. Nelson has won three of five UFC fights and stopped Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipović in October.

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A late addition to this Saturday’s Jewels: “17th Ring” event has brought the all-female card to a total of 15 bouts. M-1 kickboxing champion Miiri Sasaki returns to Jewels to face Fuka Saito in a kickboxing matchup announced today. Jewels: “17th Ring” takes place at Shinjuku FACE in Tokyo, Japan.

Sasaki most recently took part in the semi-finals of the inaugural Jewels Under-15 Amateur Kickboxing Tournament, which began in September at “16th Ring.” Sasaki suffered a competitive decision loss to finalist Chihiro Imoto and now welcomes Saito to the Jewels ring in a two-round bout.

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Rivals Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort and Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva will serve as opposing coaches on the debut season of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil next year. UFC officials confirmed Belfort and Silva’s participation today. The competition is expected to begin on March 25, 2012.

Belfort and Silva first squared off over 13 years ago at UFC 17.5: “Ultimate Brazil,” where Belfort scored a 44-second TKO victory. The fighters will now coach opposing teams on TUF Brazil before facing off for the second time. In the interim, Belfort takes on Anthony “Rumble” Johnson at UFC 142.

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Former long-time PRIDE Heavyweight Champion “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko will return to Japan for his next fight. The Russian sambo specialist is set to battle 2008 Olympic gold medallist in judo Satoshi Ishii at DREAM: “Genki Desu Ka” on December 31st in Saitama, Japan.

Emelianenko recently rebounded from a three-fight losing skid by defeating Jeff “The Snowman” Monson this past month. Prior to the setbacks, he was unbeaten in 28 fights. Ishii won four straight fights after dropping his pro debut and most recently fought to a contentious Draw with Paulo Filho.

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship will crown its first flyweight champion next year. UFC President Dana White announced tonight that a four-man 125-pound tournament will begin on March 3, 2012 as part of the UFC on FX 2 card. The semi-final winners will face off for the title at a later date.

In one semi-final bout, Tachi Palace Fights Flyweight Champion Ian “Uncle Creepy” McCall faces recent UFC bantamweight title challenger Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. Former WEC title challenger Joseph Benavidez battles Shooto Bantamweight Champion Yasuhiro Urushitani in the other.

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship travelled to the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada tonight for UFC 140: “Jones vs Machida.” The event was headlined by a UFC Light Heavyweight Championship showdown between champion Jon “Bones” Jones and Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida.

In the co-feature, former PRIDE and UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira clashed with fellow ex-champ Frank Mir for the second time. Rodrigo’s twin brother Rogerio faced Tito Ortiz at light heavyweight. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for tonight’s card.

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Welterweight prospects Tyron “T-Wood” Woodley and Jordan “Young Gun” Mein will face off in a featured matchup at Strikeforce: “Rockhold vs Jardine” on January 7, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker officially announced plans for the 170-pound showdown earlier today.

Woodley remains unbeaten in his pro career and has posted seven victories inside the Strikeforce cage. His most recent win came against former title challenger Paul “Semtex” Daley in July. Mein had won nine of his past ten fights leading into his successful Strikeforce debut on September 10th.

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A total of 14 bouts are now set for Jewels: “17th Ring” on December 17th in Tokyo, Japan. Four additional matchups were announced today, including pro mixed martial arts bouts pitting 16-year-old grappler Shino VanHoose against Asami Higa and a rematch between Yuka Okumura and Anna Saito.

Also on the card, Miyako “Smile” Mitsuhori faces Mai in a kickboxing bout, while newcomer Yukari Yamaguchi takes on Nana “Chanchin” Ichikawa in a one-round amateur MMA match. Yamaguchi trains alongside 2010 Rough Stone Grand Prix winner Mizuki Inoue and makes her MMA debut.

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