The UFC's traditional pre-event show returns tonight with the debut of "Countdown to UFC 144" on FUEL TV.
The one-hour special airs at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT) and is immediately followed by a new episode of "UFC Tonight."
UFC 144 takes place Saturday at at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The super-sized main card airs on pay-per-view, and the prelims air on FX and stream on Facebook.
Replays of "Countdown to UFC 144" air Wednesday (7 p.m. ET), Thursday (8 p.m. ET) and Friday (5 p.m. ET) on FUEL TV.
UFC 144 – which takes place on Sunday afternoon (but airs live on Saturday night in North America due to the time difference) – is the UFC's first event in Japan since 2000.
Frankie Edgar puts his lightweight belt on the line against Benson Henderson in the headliner. In addition to that title fight, "Countdown to UFC 144" is expected to focus heavily on co-headliner and former PRIDE star Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, who takes on fellow light heavyweight Ryan Bader. The card also is full of Japanese talent, and many of those fighters also will be featured in the "Countdown" special.
I'll get these episodes posted as soon as i find them tomorrow.