UFC on Fuel TV 4 Notebook: Termination Notice

Karlos Vemola has competed in three different weight classes since he made his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut in July 2010: heavyweight, light heavyweight and middleweight. After his move to 185 pounds, “The Terminator” believes he has found a home.

Vemola will lock horns with Tristar Gym’s Francis Carmont in a featured middleweight matchup at UFC on Fuel TV 4 “Munoz vs. Weidman” on Wednesday at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. The 27-year-old London Shootfighters export last appeared at UFC on Fox 3 in May, when he submitted Mike Massenzio with a second-round rear-naked choke.

“I think this is my natural weight,” Vemola told Sherdog.com. “I feel strong at this weight and hope this is where I’ll stay. I think I’m strong at this weight, definitely have better cardio and, because I’m not giving weight away, I’m more durable.”

The former heavyweight’s cut to 185 pounds has not been an issue thus far.

“Actually, it’s not a problem at all,” Vemola said. “I walk around at about 200 to 210 pounds now, whereas before, when I was a heavyweight, I was walking around at about 220 to 225.”

Vemola was 7-0 when he entered the UFC and has split four bouts since, with wins over Massenzio and Seth Petruzelli offset by losses to “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 10 alum Jon Madsen and surging 24-year-old Brazilian prospect Ronny Markes. He admits the difference in level of competition between what he faced in Europe and what confronted him inside the Octagon required a period of adjustment.

“Massive difference,” Vemola said. “One word: talent. The UFC has the best fighters in the world and although there are good fighters in the U.K., the best fighters never really fight against each other, as their ultimate aim is the UFC.”

Carmont represents Vemola’s next hurdle. The 30-year-old Frenchman has won seven consecutive bouts, two of them in the UFC.

“I think he’s good all-around, physically strong,” Vemola said. “I think he’ll come forward, which will make a change from having to chase my opponent around the Octagon.”

Vemola, who has earned all nine of his professional wins by knockout, technical knockout or submission, views the fight as a chance to establish himself in the UFC’s top-heavy middleweight division.

“It’s absolutely crucial,” he said. “This is what I plan to do: beat Francis and then go on a run. Once I do this, I will grow in confidence, and a confident and firing Karlos Vemola is a dangerous opponent for anyone.”

Kiwi Power

James Te Huna has quietly carved out a nice niche for himself in the UFC’s light heavyweight division. He will toe the line against the rugged and durable Joey Beltran in the co-main event.

Te Huna, a 30-year-old Australia-based New Zealand native has won eight of his past nine bouts, losing only to the world-ranked Alexander Gustafsson. Packing some serious dynamite in his hands, he clobbered Ricardo Romero and Aaron Rosa in his last two appearances, putting them away inside of one round. Te Huna has delivered 10 of his 14 professional victories by knockout or technical knockout.

That track record will be put to the test against Beltran, a late replacement for Brandon Vera. Moving back to 205 pounds after an unsuccessful tour at heavyweight, the 30-year-old “Mexecutioner” has been finished via strikes only once in 21 career bouts. Te Huna expects a dogfight.

“Joey’s tough,” he said in his pre-fight interview with UFC.com. “He’s a fan favorite because of his work ethic, and he seems to bring a never-say-die attitude to each fight. It’ll be a hard match for me.”

This & That

Undefeated middleweight Chris Weidman, who will face Mark Munoz in the main event, has five first-round finishes on his eight-fight resume. Munoz also has five … Fourteen of the 22 fighters on the UFC on Fuel TV 4 roster are in their 20s. Aaron Simpson is the oldest at 37, Josh Ferguson and Alex Caceres the youngest at 24 … Anthony Njokuani has not won consecutive bouts since he rattled off three consecutive wins over Bart Palaszewski, Muhsin Corbbrey and Chris Horodecki inside the WEC in 2009 … Marcelo Zilio Guimaraes was the first middleweight champion in the history of the Jungle Fight promotion. However, the 29-year-old Brazilian will make his Octagon debut against Daniel Stittgen at 170 pounds … Once ranked among the Top 10 at 135 pounds, Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts representative Damacio Page has lost his last three fights, all by choke-induced submission … Welterweight Kenny Robertson is one of five men on the card who have yet to win inside the Octagon. Ferguson, Page, Stittgen and the debuting Guimaraes are the other four … Andrew Craig did not start formal mixed martial arts training in the fall of 2008, at a time in which his opponent, Rafael Natal, already had eight professional bouts under his belt.