'Countdown to UFC 160' debuts May 21 on FUEL TV

The UFC’s traditional pre-event show returns next Tuesday, May 21, with the debut of “Countdown to UFC 160: Velasquez vs. Silva” on FUEL TV.

The one-hour special previews the card’s headlining title fight between UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez (11-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva (18-4 MMA, 2-1 UFC).

The show debuts May 21 at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT). Replays of the show air throughout the week on FUEL TV as well as regional FOX Sports channels.

UFC 160 takes place May 25 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and Facebook.

UFC 160 also features a heavyweight bout between former champ Junior dos Santos (15-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) and Mark Hunt (9-7 MMA, 4-1 UFC), with the winner potentially earning a title shot; James Te Huna (16-5 MMA, 5-1 UFC) meets Glover Teixeira (20-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) at light heavyweight; T.J. Grant (20-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) takes on Gray Maynard (11-1-1 MMA, 9-1-1 UFC) with the winner promised the next lightweight title shot; and Donald Cerrone (19-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) opens the main card against K.J. Noons (11-6 MMA, 0-0 UFC).

The UFC 160 card includes:

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

• Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva – for heavyweight title
• Junior dos Santos vs. Mark Hunt
• James Te Huna vs. Glover Teixeira
• T.J. Grant vs. Gray Maynard
• Donald Cerrone vs. KJ Noons

PRELIMINARY CARD (FX, 8 p.m. ET)

• Mike Pyle vs. Rick Story
• Dennis Bermudez vs. Max Holloway
• Colton Smith vs. Robert Whittaker
• Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Abel Trujillo

PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook, 6:35 p.m. ET)

• Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Stephen Thompson
• Brian Bowles vs. George Roop
• Estevan Payan vs. Jeremy Stephens

For the latest on UFC 160, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Cain Velasquez)