Four Fights Added To UFC on FOX 5: Henderson vs. Diaz On December 8

The UFC on FOX 5 fight card scheduled for Dec. 8 in Seattle is beginning to take shape as four new bouts have been added to the network television event.

In a heavyweight bout, Brendan Schaub takes on Lavar Johnson, Mike Swick meets Matt Brown in welterweight action and in two lightweight fights that were scheduled for the canceled UFC 151 event, Daron Cruickshank fights Henry Martinez and Tim Means will do battle with Abel Trujillo.

UFC officials confirmed all four bouts for the UFC on FOX 5 fight card.

Schaub (8-3) has suffered back-to-back first-round knockouts at the hands of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 134 and Ben Rothwell at UFC 145. The 29-year-old stated he was considering a drop to the light heavyweight division following the loss but has opted to continue fighting in the heavyweight division. “The Ultimate Fighter” season 10 competitor has not won a fight since March 2011.

Johnson (17-6) suffered his first UFC defeat at UFC 146 in May, losing to Stefan Struve by first-round submission. The veteran heavyweight started his UFC career with consecutive knockouts of Joey Beltran and Pat Barry but against Struve the ground game, his achilles heel, set him back.

Swick (15-4) returned to MMA competition after nearly two-and-a-half years at UFC on FOX 4, knocking out DeMarques Johnson in the second round. The win was Swick’s first since June 2009 and reasserted himself as a threat in the UFC welterweight division. “Quick” is 10-3 in the UFC with half of those wins coming at 170-pounds.

Brown (15-11) is currently tied with the longest winning-streak of his career after coming out victorious in three-straight fights against Chris Cope, Stephen Thompson and Luis Ramon. After losing three bouts in a row back in 2010 and facing the possibility of being released from the UFC, “The Immortal” has turned his career and had his hand raised in four of his last five octagon appearances. Brown has never been knocked out in his 26-fight professional career.

Martinez (9-2) and Cruickshank (11-2) both won their last UFC fights by decision and will be trying to add another UFC win to their records.

Means (18-3-1) will put his 11-fight unbeaten streak on the line against UFC newcomer Trujillo (9-4), who joins the UFC roster with four-straight wins.

UFC on FOX 5: Henderson vs. Diaz goes down from KeyArena in Seattle, Washing., on Dec. 8. The main event of the evening will see Benson Henderson attempt to make his second lightweight title defense against Nate Diaz.

Along with the Henderson vs. Diaz headliner, a light heavyweight contest between Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Alexander Gustafsson has been confirmed for the event.

To get the latest on UFC on FOX 5 fight card, click here. For up-to-date versions of all upcoming fight cards, head over to the rumors section.

Mike Bohn, founder and lead writer of FightCove.com, wrote this article. You can follow Mike on Twitter at @FightCoveMike. Also, follow @FightCove on Twitter and “Like” Fight Cove on Facebook.