The ninth installment of SpikeTV's UFC Fight Night takes place at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas tonight and the lightweights are taking center stage. Undefeated Brazilian fighters Wander Braga (Pictures) and Thiago Tavares (Pictures) throw their proverbial hats in the UFC ring in hopes of earning an eventual shot at the 155-pound title. Braga takes on the highly decorated Kurt Pellegrino (Pictures) (1-1 in the octagon) while Tavares will battle UFC newcomer Naoyuki Kotani (Pictures), a ZST veteran with a strong following in Japan.

Two of the three headliner bouts also feature lightweight battles when TUF 1 finalist Kenny Florian (Pictures) takes on the capricious Dokonjonosuke Mishima (Pictures) as both fighters return to the cage off a loss. And there's been more than enough jawing from the competitors in the main event to hype this bout. Joe Stevenson (Pictures), flying high in the 155lb division at 2-0, looks to shut down the angry one, rising star Melvin Guillard (Pictures).

Representin' for the welterweights, Rich Clementi (Pictures) steps in the cage but will show no love to newcomer Roan Carneiro (Pictures). Something tells me Carneiro's ok with that. Moving on up to the 185lb division, UFC Fight Night 9 features a pair of bouts with little or no title implications. It's no rip on the fighters mind you, just stating fact. The strong spirited Drew Fickett (Pictures) meets SHOOTO champ Keita Nakamura (Pictures) (0-1). Then wrestler Forrest Petz (Pictures) (1-1) battles judo hero Kuniyoshi Hironaka (Pictures) (0-1).

Wilson Gouveia (Pictures) from the American Top Team and TUF veteran Seth Petruzelli (Pictures) clash to stay alive in the hotly contested light heavyweight division and in a the remaining headliner bout of the card, Dutch striker Antoni Hardonk returns to take on grappler Justin McCully in a heavyweight struggle.