8 Fights Greenlit for UFC 117

Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Dustin Hazelett will lock horns with Rick Story in a preliminary welterweight matchup at UFC 117 “Silva vs. Sonnen” on Aug. 7 at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. Eight fights are now official for the event.

Hazelett has not competed since his brutal knockout loss to the exiled Paul Daley at UFC 108 in January. The 24-year-old Louisa, Ky., native has secured nine of his 12 victories by submission. Victories against Josh Burkman, Jonathan Goulet and Bellator Fighting Championships veteran Diego Saraiva anchor his resume. Despite his defeat to Daley, Hazelett remains one of the most promising young fighters in the welterweight division.

Anchored at the Brave Legion camp in Vancouver, Wash., Story will carry a three-fight winning streak into the match. The 25-year-old last appeared at UFC 112 in April, when he defeated “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 9 semifinalist Nick Osipczak by split decision. Eight of Story’s 13 career bouts have gone the distance; the Washingtonian has never been finished.

Two other up-and-coming welterweights will help strengthen the UFC 117 undercard, as Johny Hendricks squares off with once-beaten AMA Fight Club standout Charlie Brenneman.

Having made a seamless transition from World Extreme Cagefighting to the UFC, Hendricks has yet to taste defeat in eight professional bouts. The 27-year-old Ada, Okla., native earned a majority decision over T.J. Grant at UFC 113 in May and pushed his winning streak to eight. Hendricks was a four-time All-American wrestler and two-time national champion at Oklahoma State University.

Brenneman made his promotional debut at UFC Fight Night 21 in March, as he defeated 2009 Dream welterweight grand prix finalist Jason High by unanimous decision. The 29-year-old Hollidaysburg, Pa., native will enter his duel with Hendricks on a seven-fight winning streak. In 13 career appearances, Brenneman has never been finished.

Other bouts greenlit for “Silva vs. Sonnen” include a welterweight tilt pitting American Top Team’s Ben Saunders against Dennis Hallman and a light heavyweight showdown pairing Rodney Wallace with undefeated Sengoku veteran Stanislav Nedkov.

A middleweight title fight between champion Anderson Silva and challenger Chael Sonnen will headline UFC 117, which will also feature a welterweight matchup between hall of famer Matt Hughes and former King of Pancrase Ricardo Almeida.

UFC 117 “Silva vs. Sonnen”
Saturday, Aug. 7
Oracle Arena
Oakland, Calif.

UFC Middleweight Championship
Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen

* Jon Fitch vs. Thiago Alves
* Junior dos Santos vs. Roy Nelson
Matt Hughes vs. Ricardo Almeida
Clay Guida vs. Rafael dos Anjos
Thiago Silva vs. Tim Boetsch
Dustin Hazelett vs. Rick Story
Ben Saunders vs. Dennis Hallman
Johny Hendricks vs. Charlie Brenneman
Rodney Wallace vs. Stanislav Nedkov

* Not Official