• UFC 146

Diego Brandao handed Elkins test at UFC 146

ESPN staff
February 23, 2012
Diego Brandao returns to the Octagon for the first time as the TUF 14 featherweight winner © Getty Images
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Diego Brandao, the devastating featherweight winner of TUF 14, has been handed his first fight since coming off the reality show, against Darren Elkins at UFC 146.

Brandao displayed fearsome power in his hands throughout TUF 14, but it was another side of his game that won him the UFC contract. Having been put in trouble by Dennis Bermudez in the final, Brandao snapped on an armbar to end one of the best rounds of the year.

Elkins is 2-0 since dropping into the 145lb division, and his style will make for an explosive clash on May 26.

The Brandao v Elkins bout is one of five announced by the UFC on Wednesday, with Dan Hardy v Duane Ludwig the headline-grabber.

Other bouts to be verbally agreed include Gabriel Gonzaga v Shane Del Rosario in the heavyweight division. Gonzaga's talents are well known, but he meets a man in Del Rosario who has finished all 11 of his fights, eight by knockout and three by submission.

Elsewhere, Kyle Kingsbury meets Glover Teixeira in the light-heavyweight division, while Paul Sass takes on Jacob Volkmann.

UFC 146 is expected to be headlined by Junior Dos Santos' heavyweight title defence against Alistair Overeem, and also features Evan Dunham v Edson Barboza and Jason Miller v CB Dollaway.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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