I don’t know about the rest of the world, but here in Atlanta it feels like summer already. Its going to be 84 degrees today and the outdoor pool at my apartment complex is already open. That probably sounds like heaven to anyone still dealing with cold winter like temperatures since spring doesn’t even officially begin until tomorrow. Don’t get too jealous though. The pool may be open but its pointless to go outside for more than 5 minutes at a time here right now unless your idea of fun involves being covered in an inch of dusty radioactive yellow colored pollen and doing shots of benedryl.
It may feel like summer around here but we aren’t ready to Clay Guida style party it up just yet. Thanks to the UFC though we can still daydream about living it up this summer as two fun new fights have been announced to kick off 2012’s UFC summer season. UFC announced yesterday that Guida vs Maynard will start off our UFC summer as a five round headliner event on the UFC on FX June 22nd card and we can finish off our Fourth of July weekend festivites with Cung Le vs Rich Franklin at UFC 148 Cruz vs Faber on July 7th.
Guida and Maynard haven’t been in the Octagon since the fall and both are coming back after losses. Guida off a loss to the new champ Ben Henderson and Maynard off a loss to the former champ Frankie Edgar. During his time off Maynard has left Xtreme Couture and traveled around through various training camps even spending time training with Jose Aldo in Brazil. He might be bringing a whole new Maynard into the mix at his return to the octagon.
Le hasn’t fought since having his nose moved around on his face a bit by Wanderlei in November and Franklin hasn’t fought in over a year. Franklin is coming back after a loss to Forrest Griffin and a shoulder injury that prevented him from fighting Big Nog back in August. We should be in for a fun summer with matchups like this being announced already by the UFC. [source]
