A major middleweight bout between two of the division's most entertaining fighters has been added to the UFC on FOX 3 card.

UFC president Dana White today announced that well-rounded Alan Belcher (17-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) meets submission specialist Rousimar Palhares (14-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) at the upcoming event.

UFC on FOX 3 takes place May 5 at IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. The main card, including a Jim Miller vs. Nate Diaz headliner, airs on FOX, and prelims are expected to air on FUEL TV.

Belcher vs. Palhares is likely to be part of the FOX-televised main card.

Belcher recently returned from a 16-month layoff due to an initially career-threatening eye surgery/recovery and picked up a vicious first-round submission win (due to punches) over Jason MacDonald. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and explosive striker is now 5-1 over his past six fights, and the lone loss came to Yoshihiro Akiyama via close split decision in a "Fight of the Night" performance.

Like Belcher, Palhares also carries a three-fight win streak. Most recently, he used a trademark heel hook to submit Mike Massenzio at UFC 142 in Brazil. Aside from a brief mental lapse that prompted a loss to Nate Marquardt in 2010, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt in undefeated in his past seven fights. In fact, his only other career loss came via decision to notable Dan Henderson in Palhares' second UFC fight.

The latest UFC on FOX 3 card now includes:
Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller
Johny Hendricks vs. Josh Koscheck
Alan Belcher vs. Rousimar Palhares
Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson
John Hathaway vs. Pascal Krauss
John Dodson vs. Darren Uyenoyama
Danny Castillo vs. John Cholish
Mike Massenzio vs. Karlos Vemola
Louis Gaudinot vs. John Lineker




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