The UFC today officially announced "UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin" for July 3 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The event will feature its namesake participants, as UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar (4-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) makes his long-awaited return to the cage and defends his title against undefeated interim champion Shane Carwin (12-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC).

"When people wonder why the heavyweights capture the imagination of all fight fans, it's because of guys like Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin," UFC president Dana White stated in today's release. "Not only are they great athletes and former national wrestling champions, but they both have the ability to end a fight with one punch. This is one of those fights that you won't be able to turn away from because it can be over in a split-second, and when it’s over, only one will walk away as the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion of the world."

The heavily anticipated main event is the only official bout for the fight card thus far.

Other rumoured fights:
MAIN CARD

* Champ Brock Lesnar vs. interim champ Shane Carwin (heavyweight title-unification bout)
* Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Wanderlei Silva*
* Kurt Pellegrino vs. George Sotiropoulos*
* Nate Marquardt vs. TBA*
* Cheick Kongo vs. Roy Nelson*

PRELIMINARY CARD

* Brendan Schaub vs. Chris Tuchscherer*
* Stephan Bonnar vs. Krzysztof Soszynski*
* Matt Brown vs. Chris Lytle*
* Jon Madsen vs. Karlos Vemola*
* Julio Paulino vs. Daniel Roberts*
* Kendall Grove vs. TBA*
* Goran Reljic vs. TBA*

Solid main card, I hope they air the Bonnar/Soszynski rematch. That was a good fight up until the stoppage.

UFC116 is going to be huge for a number of reasons.

1. Brock and Shane are both massive
2. George Sotiropoulos V Kurt Peligrino will catapult our Aussie firmly into the top 5
3. The rematch everyone at UFC110 is hanging out for between Stephan Bonnar and Krzysztof Soszynski
4. Wandy is also back
5. The rumour Frank Mir is fighting Big Country Roy Nelson
6. The most important fact Dirty Boxer Australia will be there to see it all live.

dirtyboxer wrote:
6. The most important fact Dirty Boxer Australia will be there to see it all live.

I'm jealous. That is one epic card.

We cant wait captainmma. Although this weekends fight is also huge.

Dude, I'm green with envy. 116 will be phenomenal.

If you can drag yourself away from Mother's Day, 113 is on at the Inkerman Hotel.