Story courtesy of MMAWeekly.comanderson-silva-bow-main
Fotos by Joe Cordova/Brawlin.net

The Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday confirmed the remaining bouts for UFC 97. The promotion’s return to Montreal features a main event UFC middleweight title tilt between champion Anderson Silva and challenger Thales Leites and a light heavyweight showdown between former UFC champ Chuck Liddell and former Pride champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

After competing on Season 8 of The Ultimate Fighter, Poland’s Krzysztof Soszynski (fighting out of Temecula, Calif. via Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) parlayed that experience into a second-round submission victory over Shane Primm in December. But now the 31-year-old light heavyweight will face the toughest test of his career in former World Extreme Cagefighting light heavyweight champion Brian Stann (fighting out of Scranton, Pa.). Mixed martial arts is a respite compared to the pressure the 28-year-old Stann faced when his Marine unit was ambushed in Iraq in 2005. Stann, then a 2nd Mobile Assault Platoon leader, and his troops thwarted the two-week assault as every American soldier survived the attacks. Now Stann makes his UFC debut against the experienced Soszynski.

Don’t blink when Cheick Kongo (fighting out of Paris, France) and Antoni Hardonk (fighting out of Weesp, Holland) touch gloves. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound Kongo is a devastating striker that is coming off two consecutive knockouts against Dan Evensen and Mostapha Al Turk. If there is a fighter in the heavyweight division that will probably look to stand-and-trade with the 23-4-1 striker, it will be Dutch kickboxer Antoni Hardonk. Knocking out his last three opponents all inside of two rounds, Hardonk, like Kongo, looks to be the best he’s ever been.

There is no ceiling on the career of 22-year-old Steve Cantwell (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada). The former WEC light heavyweight champion ended his UFC debut by referee stoppage when he had Razak Al-Hassan’s arm in a precarious position during their December fight. Now the Long Beach, California native focuses his attention to another rising star in Luiz “Banha” Cane (fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil). The 27-year-old with a 10-1, 1 NC record boasts TKO wins over Jason Lambert and Rameau Sokoudjou in his last two fights.

An Alumnus of Season 8 of The Ultimate Fighter, Eliot Marshall (fighting out of Boulder, Colo.) had an impressive first-round submission against Jules Bruchez in his UFC debut last December. Now the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and Franklinville, N.J. native will look to improve his MMA record to 7-2 when he faces versatile light heavyweight Mike Ciesnolevicz (fighting out of Bettendorf, Iowa). The 29-year-old Ciesnolevicz impressed UFC fans by moving up to heavyweight to fight Neil Grove at UFC 95 and only needing 1:03 to heel hook the massive heavyweight for the submission victory. Now the Miletich-trained fighter and Harrisburg, Pa. native moves back to his normal weight class to take on “The Fire.”

With an impressive 31-11-1, 2 NC mixed martial arts record, Denis Kang (fighting out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) brings plenty of experience to the UFC’s middleweight division. Fighting for the first time in his home country as a UFC fighter, Kang will have to be well prepared when he goes toe-to-toe with Muay Thai wrecking ball Xavier Foupa-Pokam (fighting out of Paris, France). Even though he’s regarded as a top striker, the 27-year-old Foupa-Pokam has won three of his last five fights by submission.

A veteran of nine fights in the Octagon™, Nova Scotia’s Jason MacDonald (fighting out of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) dominated the last time the UFC visited Montreal. In 2008, the 33-year-old middleweight earned a TKO victory against Joe Doerksen at UFC 83. Now “The Athlete” looks to defend his home turf against heavy-handed puncher Nate “The Rock” Quarry (fighting out of Gresham, Ore.). The UFC veteran is known for throwing hands, as four of his five UFC wins have come via knockout.

What a time to return to the Octagon for Montreal native David Loiseau (fighting out of Montreal, Quebec, Canada). The 29-year-old is a veteran of seven UFC bouts and last fought for the organization in 2006. The dangerous striker will face a talented, well-rounded mixed martial artist in Ed Herman (fighting out of Portland, Ore.). The Vancouver, Washington born fighter looks to get back to his 2007 form, when he won three fights in a row.

Coming off an impressive submission victory against Alvin Robinson at UFC 91 is Toronto native Mark Bocek (fighting out of Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada). The 27-year-old lightweight and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt will truly be tested if the fight hits the ground against Sweden’s David Bielkheden (fighting out of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil). The Brazilian Top Team trained fighter also holds a BJJ black belt and looks to use the momentum from the decision victory in his last fight against Jess Liaudin to earn his second straight win.

One of the handful of fighters that holds an MMA win over current UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, 32-year-old Ryo Chonan (fighting out of Yamagata City, Japan) is a veteran of 24 professional fights. The always exciting welterweight looks to improve his record to 16-9 when he faces experienced grappler TJ Grant (fighting out of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia). The 25-year-old Calgary native has earned submission victories in 12 of his 13 wins, and is making his UFC debut.

As the first fight on this stacked card, Canadian Sam Stout (fighting out of London, Ontario, Canada) looks to get the Montreal crowd in a frenzy from the start. The 24-year-old Muay Thai practitioner enjoys a good standup battle but will have to be prepared to take on the well-rounded Matt Wiman (fighting out of Dallas, Texas). The Dallas fighter is coming off a breakthrough year in 2008, and he plans on carrying that momentum into 2009 when he faces Stout.

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