Spike TV Confirms “UFC 116: Prelims” Airing

Spike TV has confirmed that it will telecast live preliminary bouts from “UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin” on Saturday, July 3.

The televised bouts will air at 9:00 p.m. ET on the cable network.

The first bout scheduled to air is a middleweight contest between Kendall Grove and Goran Reljic. Grove entered the UFC after winning the third season of “The Ultimate Fighter” in 2006. His last Octagon appearance came at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi, where he was overwhelmed by Mark Munoz and lost via TKO in the second round. The bout earned Grove and Munoz the Fight of the Night honors — the first time in Grove has been awarded the honor during his career.

Grove faces Reljic, a Croatian with ties to legendary striker Mirko Cro Cop. Reljic also suffered a defeat in his last UFC appearance, losing a decision to C.B. Dolloway in February. Prior to that loss, however, Reljic was undefeated in active competition.

The second preliminary bout will be “The Ultimate Fighter” season ten finalist Brendan Schaub taking on Brock Lesnar training partner Chris Tuschscherer. Schaub lost the TUF finals to Roy Nelson, but rebounded and mauled Chase Gormley in a 47-second win in March. Tuschscherer defeated Tim Hague in a disputed decision in February.

UFC 116 is headlined by the long-awaited return of Brock Lesnar. The UFC heavyweight champion will face interim champion Shane Carwin in a title unification bout. Popular middleweight Wanderlei Silva also takes on Yoshihiro Akiyama.