UFC On Versus 6: Yves Edwards Vs. Rafaello Oliveira, T.J. Grant Vs. Shane Roller Announced

UFC On Versus 6 Fight Card: Grant vs. Roller, Edwards Vs. Oliveira

More fights are being announced for the UFC's first card in Washington, DC proper. Two lightweight fights are part of the event's - UFC on Versus 6 - fight card. The UFC announced the news via their site:

Canadian standout T.J. Grant will make his lightweight debut against Shane Roller in an October 1st bout verbally agreed to today. The match will take place at Verizon Center in Washington D.C.

Lightweight veterans Yves Edwards and Rafaello Oliveira will square off in Washington DC on October 1st in a quest to get back in the win column after recent losses to Sam Stout and Gleison Tibau, respectively. This bout on the UFC Live card was verbally agreed to today.

A lot of risk for multiple competitors here. Grant is looking to make lightweight a home after having a challenging time at welterweight. This could be the end of Edwards' second UFC run if he loses to Oliveira, and Oliveira is likely also on the chopping block in the event of a loss. And Roller needs a big win after being bludgeoned by Melvin Guillard.

For more UFC on Versus 6 fight card news, be sure to follow our StoryStream.

UFC On Versus 6 Fight Card: Mike Easton Vs. Jeff Hougland Announced

A man with whom I am very familiar, Mike Easton, is set to make his UFC debut in his hometown. Easton will take on Jeff Hougland at UFC on Versus 6 in Washington, DC. UFC announced the bout today on their website:

Winner of five in a row, bantamweight prospect Mike "The Hulk" Easton will return to competition for the first time since 2009 and he will do it in the UFC Octagon as he makes his debut in the organization against Jeff Hougland on October 1st's UFC Live on Versus card in Washington D.C. Easton, a stablemate of 135-pound champ Dominick Cruz, will be in tough against Hougland, who was successful in his UFC debut in July, defeating Donny Walker.

I've commentated four of Mike Easton's professional fights cage side during my time with the Ultimate Warrior Challenge. When I first started training on jiu-jitsu and muay Thai Mike was one of my personal coaches. I will say, though, I spoke out vociferously against the decision he earned against Chase Beebe in his last fight, but Mike and I have remained friendly to this day.

Mike is of supreme athletic talent, but Hougland could be a bad match-up for him. Hougland is neither the grappler nor the athlete nor the striker Easton is, but he fights very actively, hustling from bell to bell. Easton can be a slow starter and against even a lesser opponent like Hougland, simple urgency could make all the difference. Easton is also coming into this bout on a two-year absence from professional competition.

UFC On Versus 6 Fight Card: Stefan Struve Vs. Pat Barry Announced

In addition to UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz defending his title, UFC fans in Washington, DC can expect heavyweight action as well. Quite literally, the UFC's tallest and shortest heavyweight fighters will meet on the main card:

"Verbal agreements are in for a titanic battle between Stefan ‘Skyscraper’ Struve and Pat Barry October 1st on UFC Live On Versus," said UFC president Dana White. At 6'11", Struve is the tallest fighter among UFC heavyweights, while Barry, a full foot shorter, clocks in as the division's shortest.

The UFC Tweeted a picture of the two together and clearly this fight promises both wild fits of action sandwiched between long periods of tactical bewilderment.

The UFC on Versus 6 fight card as of the time of this writing:

Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson
Stefan Struve vs. Pat Barry
Charlie Brenneman vs. Anthony Johnson
Mac Danzig vs. Matt Wiman
Paul Sass vs. Michael Johnson

UFC On Versus 6 Fight Card: Dominick Cruz To Defend Bantamweight Title Against Demetrious Johnson

In an unexpected move, UFC President Dana White announced today via NBC Sports that UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz will actually defend his title at UFC on Versus 6 in October. The challenger? Demetrious Johnson. Here are some extra details:

This will mark the first UFC title fight broadcast live and free on cable television since Quinton "Rampage" Jackson fought Dan Henderson at UFC 75 in Sept. 2007.

"Cruz cemented his claim as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport with an exciting win over Urijah Faber at UFC 132," White said. "He beat the one guy who had beaten him - he got the monkey off his back - and a lot of people think he’s going to go on to be unstoppable now.

"But he’ll be fighting maybe the one guy in the division who is faster than him. Johnson’s speed has seen him beat 10 of his 11 opponents, including a win over former champion Miguel Torres. The first Bantamweight Title fight in UFC history was the Fight of the Night – and the second one could be even better."

UFC 75 was once a record for MMA viewing on telelvision in North America, although has since been passed. Given that what made that bout a success was a combination of fighter star power, the roar of the UFC/MMA boom, and a lack of precedence, it would also be irresponsible to assume any title fight on free television would necessary be a ratings bonanza. It should be note,d though, the title addition provides heft to Versus cards that often lack bouts of true significance for anything but aspiring contenders or developing prospects.

Realistically, though, this is about exposing Cruz to a broader audience. The current bantamweight champion is problematic as a pay-per-view headliner (it is rumored, though not confirmed, Cruz's last headlining bout at UFC 132 drew less than 300,000 buys) and the UFC needs this exposure on free television to turn him into a more bankable commodity.

Locally, DC-area MMA fans might fill the larger Verizon Center given the lower price point for Versus-event tickets as well as the allure of a high stakes of a title defense.

UFC On Versus 6: Top MMA Promoter Returns To Washington, D.C.

Multiple sources are reporting the Ultimate Fighting Championship is set to return the Washington, DC area, this time entering DC proper, on October 1. UFC on Versus 6, the UFC's sixth installment of free, live fights on the NBC-owned Versus channel, will be held at the Verizon Center in downtown Washington. No headliner has yet to be named.

The Verizon Center holds approximately 20,000 attendess, although after the UFC configures their seating arrangement to accommodate their viewing needs (meaning eliminate seats to allow for placement of projector screens for those in attendance), that number could shrink to 15,000 or less.

The fight card is already beginning to fill out. As of the time of this writing, it appears as follows:

Charlie Brenneman vs. Anthony Johnson
Mac Danzig vs. Matt Wiman
Paul Sass vs. Michael Johnson

Stay tuned to SB Nation MMA as we update this stream with fight card news, event information and more.