Key Middleweights added to UFC 81

The ever thinning middleweight should get a jumpstart with some middleweights looking to make some noise February 2nd. Ricardo 'Cachorrao' Almeida returns to the UFC for the first time since 2002 against Alan 'The Talent' Belcher who is coming off wins against Sean Salmon (Rashad Evans' highlight reel) and Kalib Starnes

Also on the card is Nate Marquardt who is in his first fight since a first round lose to Anderson Silva. He'll be fighting Thales Leites who has won 3 of his last 4 fights. Leites has been playing second and third tier in the division and knows a win over a guy like Marquardt will propell him into the top ranks and make him a serious contender.

In undercard action, Marvin Eastman drops down to 185 to take on hard hitting Terry Martin. Eastman fought in the UFC at 205 against 'Rampage' Jackson in Jackson's first UFC fight. It was a fight in which 'Rampage' was to tune up for Chuck Liddell and avenge a loss at the same time. He's fought outside the organization a couple times since and should be a very tough opponent at 185. Martin was winning the battle of sluggers against Chris Leben in his last fight when he got caught flush and was knocked out. The fight was going Martin's way and, at one point, he had 'The Crippler' hurt bad. He just took a few seconds too long in going for the kill, got hit flush with a brick from Leben and went to sleep.

This card is shaping up to be a good one. It seemed that the UFC was banking on the marketability of Brock Lesnar to sell tickets but the card is stacked with some great fights. Headlined by former UFC heavyweight champ Frank Mir fighting newcomer and former WWE champ Brock Lesnar.