By MATT MOLGAARD
MMANEWS.COM Staff Writer

In what promises to be an absolute barnburner, two highly skilled middleweights will tangle at UFC on FOX 3, when durable striker Alan Belcher (17-6) locks horns with dangerous submission specialist, Rousimar Palhares (14-3) in a featured middleweight duel.

Belcher, who’s battled numerous injuries over the last few years, has rebounded nicely. The Roufusport standout has picked up three victories in his last three outings inside the octagon, all of which were stoppage victories. In his most recent trip to the cage, he stopped Jason MacDonald with strikes late in the first frame of the fight.

Palhares, who seems to suffer from consistent mental stumbles inside the cage, has also turned things around for himself. After a spectacle of a stoppage at the hands of Nate Marquardt back at UFC Fight Night 22, Rousimar has notched three decisive and consecutive victories himself. His trademark heel hook has proven lethal as ever: he’s stopped two of his last three opponents with the dangerous leg lock (Mike Massenzio and David Branch).

The victor here will make a sizable leap in the divisional rankings, joining a handful of extremely dangerous contenders.

UFC on FOX airs May 5. The action emanates from the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

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