For every UFC event, TapouTVTC.com chronicles the fighters who have their backs up against the wall. These articles are speculation, and do not represent any sort of insider information.
Name: Joe Doerksen
Fighting: CB Dollaway
Record: 2-5 UFC, 45-12 overall, currently on a one-fight win streak in the promotion
How he got here: Doerksen made his UFC debut all the way back at UFC 49, submitting to Joe Riggs due to strikes. Since then, he has bounced in and out of the organization. Most recently, he replaced an injured Tim Credeur to face Tom Lawlor at UFC 113, submitting Lawlor by rear-naked choke after getting rocked in the first round. Doerksen added a TKO win over Shawn Marchand at Canadian Fighting Championships 5 a month later.
Why he needs the win: Doerksen has been mostly dominant outside of the UFC, but has been unable to translate that into Octagon success. A loss to the less-experienced Dollaway could spell another short stint for the Canadian submission artist.
Name: Mark Hunt
Fighting: Sean McCorkle
Record: 0-0 UFC, 5-6 overall, currently on a five-fight losing streak.
How he got here: If you're wondering how a fighter with a less-than-stellar record on a five-fight-losing streak is making his UFC debut, you aren't alone. UFC president Dana White explained that when the UFC acquired PRIDE, a stipulation in Hunt's contract gave him a fight with the organization. A decorated kickboxer, Hunt has lost to Josh Barnett, Fedor Emelianenko, Alistair Overeem, Melvin Manhoef and Gegard Mousasi during his losing streak.
Why he needs the win: While Hunt's losses have been to some of the best fighters in the world, that doesn't change the fact that he has not won an MMA bout since 2006. In the same Q&A session, White said that they had looked into buying Hunt out, essentially paying him NOT to fight in the UFC. If this isn't a 'win or go home' match, we don't know what is.
Name: Steve Lopez
Fighting: Waylon Lowe
Record: 0-1 UFC, 12-2 overall
How he got here: After amassing a 12-1 record in regional shows, Lopez made his UFC debut against Jim Miller at UFC 103, losing by TKO when he dislocated his shoulder.
Why he needs the win: Lopez's UFC career could probably survive another loss, but standing at 0-2 in the UFC's least-forgiving division is a daunting task.
Name: Waylon Lowe
Fighting: Steve Lopez
Record: 0-1 UFC, 8-3 overall
How he got here: A former D-II national champion wrestler, Lowe made his UFC debut against Melvin Guillard at UFC 114, losing by KO in the first round.
Why he needs the win: Like Lopez, Lowe does not want to be staring up from the bottom of the lightweight division. Couple that with the recent rash of cuts made by the UFC, and the stakes become much high for both fighters.
Name: T.J. Grant
Fighting: Julio Paulino
Record: 2-2 UFC, 15-4 overall, currently on a one-fight losing streak
How he got here: Fresh off of a 'Knockout of the Night' win over Kevin Burns at UFC 107, Grant lost a majority decision to Johny Hendricks at UFC 113.
Why he needs a win: Despite his bonus-earning KO at UFC 107, Grant stands on shaky ground with a .500 UFC record. Grant has alternated wins and losses since his UFC debut, so by that logic he is due for a win. If only it were that simple.
Name: Frank Mir
Fighting: Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic
Record: 11-5 UFC, 13-5 overall, currently on a one-fight losing streak
How he got here: Mir rebounded from his championship loss against Brock Lesnar with a dominant display over Cheick Kongo at UFC 107. His road back to the title was then derailed by Shane Carwin, who pounded Mir out in just under four minutes. Mir was originally scheduled to face Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in a rematch of their UFC 92 bout, but Nogueria was forced off the card with an injury.
Why he needs a win: By no means are we saying that Mir will be cut if he loses this fight, but he needs a win to stay relevant in the heavyweight title picture. On paper, Mir is a heavy favorite, a jiu-jitsu master against an aging striker with no semblance of a ground game. If 'Cro Cop' pulls off the upset, though, it will be a huge setback for Mir's career.
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