When Brazilian submission ace Rousimar Palhares
steps into the cage against Nate Marquardt in the
main event of UFC Fight Night 22, he'll be competing in perhaps the most
high-profile contest of his career.

But don't for one minute believe that the Spike TV-broadcast bout is the toughest fight of Palhares' life.

No, the UFC middleweight contender's biggest struggles came well before
he ever set foot in the octagon - when a 10-year-old Palhares and his
brothers and sisters worked 13 hour days on Brazilian
plantations while (usually) making just enough money to live just
slightly more luxuriously than the animals to which they tended.

Spike TV's live broadcast of this past week's UFC 118 weigh-ins resulted in an average audience of 380,000 viewers, an industry source today confirmed with MMAjunkie.com.

The Aug. 27 broadcast aired at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT) live from Boston's TD Garden.

Spike TV officials could not be reached for comment, but a source close to the event said the ratings figure was "pretty good" for its timeslot and especially strong among men 18-34.

A middleweight bout between top contenders Vitor Belfort and Yushin Okami is expected to headline November's UFC 122 event, which airs on Spike TV.

Multiple sources today confirmed the tentative plans with MMAjunkie.com. "Wrestling Observer" first reported the likelihood of the fight.

UFC 122 takes Nov. 13 at Konig Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, Germany.

The UFC's traditional pre-event preview show returns Monday with the debut of "Countdown to UFC 118: Edgar vs. Penn II."

The one-hour special debuts at midnight ET/PT (Monday night/Tuesday morning) on Spike TV and spotlights the UFC 118 championship main event and rematch between lightweight champ Frankie Edgar and B.J. Penn.

Replays air Wednesday (7 p.m. ET/PT), early Friday morning (12:08 a.m. ET/PT) and Saturday (6 p.m. ET/PT) on Spike TV.

The UFC's fighter weigh-in ceremonies for this month's UFC 118 event will be aired live on Spike TV.

UFC officials today announced the plans via Twitter.

A featuring a lightweight title fight rematch between champion Frankie
Edgar and the man he beat for the belt, B.J. Penn, UFC 118 takes place
Aug. 28 at Boston's TD Garden. The weigh-ins take place one day prior.

"The Ultimate Fighter 11" cast member Rich Attonito returns to the octagon on Sept. 15 to welcome UFC newcomer Rafael Natal to the organization.

UFC officials announced the matchup today.

The pair meets on the preliminary card of UFC Fight 22 in Austin, Texas.
Featuring a matchup between middleweight contenders Alan Belcher and
Demian Maia, the main card of UFC Fight Night 22 airs live on Spike TV.

September's UFC 119 pay-per-view event will get a "UFC Prelims" special, after all.

MMAjunkie.com first reported earlier this month that Spike TV and UFC officials planned to skip the one-hour preliminary-card special for UFC 119.

However, a source close to the event said officials since have changed their minds and tapped middleweights C.B. Dollaway vs. Joe Doerksen and heavyweights Joey Beltran vs. Matt Mitrione for the Spike TV broadcast.

Spike TV will not air a one-hour "UFC Prelims" pay-per-view teaser prior to September's UFC 119 event, but the possibility remains for UFC 121.

That's according to a source close to Spike TV who today confirmed the plans with MMAjunkie.com.

Spike TV's "UFC Prelims" specials debuted in late 2009, and after strong ratings for the debut, resulted in a contract for 10 more in 2010.

A light-heavyweight bout between Cyrille Diabate and Alexander Gustafsson will be part of October's UFC 120 event.

MMAjunkie.com confirmed with a source close to the event that bout agreements are being finalized for the matchup, which was first reported by MMAFighting.com.

UFC 120 takes place Oct. 16 at The O2 in London. The night's main card airs via same-day delay on Spike TV.

A bout between UFC heavyweight newcomers Vinicius Kappke de Quieroz and Rob Broughton will be part of the organization's UFC 120 event in October.

MMAjunkie.com today confirmed with members of Kappke de Quieroz's Chute Boxe team that the fight is "official" for the overseas card.

UFC 120 takes place Oct. 16 at The O2 in London and airs via same-day delay on Spike TV.