‘UFC Prelims Live’ Specials Return to Spike TV with UFC 128

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Spike TV will once again broadcast a “UFC Prelims Live” special, as the cable network will air two UFC 128 undercard contests one hour prior to the event’s pay-per-view broadcast.

Sherdog.com confirmed the news with a source close to the broadcast, which MMAJunkie.com first reported Tuesday morning. The free special will feature a light heavyweight duel between former heavyweight prospect Karlos Vemola and hard-hitting Brazilian Luis “Banha” Cane, as well as a lightweight shootout between strikers Anthony Njokuani and Edson Barboza.

UFC 128 will go down March 19 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., and will be headlined by a light heavyweight title clash between reigning champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and up-and-comer Jon Jones.

Vemola looks to capitalize on his successful light heavyweight debut, as the powerful Czech most recently pounded out Seth Petruzelli at UFC 122 in November. In his last bout at heavyweight, the London Shootfighters product was outpointed by powerful wrestler Jon Madsen at UFC 116. That loss marked the first and only defeat of Vemola’s career.

Cane will attempt to bring a halt to a two-fight losing skid. In his last two outings, “Banha” suffered back-to-back losses for the first time in his career, as he was knocked out by Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Cyrille Diabate at UFC 106 and UFC 114, respectively.

Njokuani recently bounced back from consecutive defeats by knocking out Edward Faaloloto at WEC 52 in November. Prior to besting Faaloloto, the native Nigerian fell to Shane Roller and Maciej Jewtuszko to start 2010. “The Assassin” will make his UFC debut on March 19.

Another powerful lightweight striker, the unbeaten Barboza burst onto the big stage at UFC 123, where he finished Mike Lullo with a series of cracking leg kicks early in the third frame. A veteran muay Thai fighter, Barboza has finished all seven of his professional opponents in MMA, earning six knockouts along the way.