Before Anderson Silva looks to defend his UFC middleweight title against Chael Sonnen for a second time, fans in Canada can watch a handful of exciting UFC 148 preliminary fights on Sportsnet regional channels.
The preliminary card can be seen live on Sportsnet Ontario, East, West and Pacific starting at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
Here is a look at each of the fights that fans can watch live on Sportsnet:
— John Alessio (34-15) vs. Shane Roller (10-6)
Duncan, B.C.’s Alessio will kick off the broadcast as he takes on WEC veteran Shane Roller. Alessio has won 10 of his last 12 fights but is coming off a unanimous decision loss to fellow Canadian Mark Bocek at UFC 145 in April. He took that fight on short notice and should be more prepared against Roller. Since moving to lightweight, Alessio has changed the way he trains and he’s hoping it will pay off at UFC 148.
Roller will be fighting for his UFC life as the Division 1 wrestling standout has lost three straight bouts to Michael Johnson, TJ Grant and Melvin Guillard. Roller is a strong grappler so he will look to take this fight to the ground when he can.
— Melvin Guillard (29-10-2, 1 NC) vs. Fabricio Camoes (14-6-1)
After riding a five-fight win streak that included several devastating knockouts, Guillard was edging closer to a lightweight title shot in 2011. But, two consecutive submission losses — both by rear-naked choke to Joe Lauzon and Jim Miller — set him back. The experienced 29-year-old looks to moves back up the 155-pound ranks with a win.
Camoes, who began training MMA 15 years ago with headliner Silva, has won 10 of his last 12 and has seven submission wins, which is Guillard’s kryptonite.
— Gleison Tibau (25-7) vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov (17-0)
Tibau has long been one of the best lightweights in the UFC but has yet to break through to that upper echelon of contenders. He takes on the unbeaten, rising Nurmagomedov who was successful in his UFC debut against Kamal Shalorus in January. If the 23-yer-old Russian can upset the Brazilian veteran he could be well on his way to making a title run in the next couple years.
— Constantinos Philippou (10-2, 1 NC) vs. Riki Fukuda (18-5)
Both men have similar styles, with strong boxing skills and wrestling bases. Neither man is afraid to exchange on the feet so fans might be treated to an entertaining, boxing-heavy bout.
Philippou has won three straight including a decision over TUF 11 winner Court McGee and a brutal knockout of Jared Hamman at UFC 140 in Toronto; Fukuda is coming off a unanimous decision win over former WEC light-heavyweight champion Steve Cantwell at UFC 144 in his native Japan.
— Rafaello Oliveira (14-5) vs. Yoislandy Izquierdo (6-1)
The only preliminary bout not scheduled for the television broadcast is this lightweight bout between Oliveira and Izquierdo.
The bout is scheduled to air on the UFC’s Facebook page at approximately 7:25 p.m. ET / 4:25 p.m. PT but there is a chance this fight will also air on the Prelims Live broadcast if time permits.
Oliveira has lost two in a row and is 1-4 in five UFC appearances. Izquierdo recently suffered his first loss in April in his UFC debut and looks to bounce back and establish his spot in the UFC.
