The birthplace of mixed martial arts.

That's the distinguished portrayal the UFC affixed to Brazil in a press release sent out earlier this summer to trumpet Saturday night's fight card in Rio de Janeiro (9 p.m. ET, PPV).

You can quibble with the factuality of the "birthplace" label. The Ultimate Fighting Championship actually was first contested in 1993 in Denver, the which-martial-art-is-toughest? event dreamed up by a family living in southern California. But that family has deep roots in Brazil, where for decades the Gracies built their renown in underground "anything goes" fighting events known as vale tudo.

   Former Minnesota State University, Moorhead two-time Division II All-American wrestler Chris “The Crowbar” Tuchscherer is looking to rebound from an emotionally stinging loss in his UFC debut last August when he steps into the the Octagon this Saturday night in Las Vegas.

   Tuchscherer, 34, and originally from Rigby North Dakota, was floor early in the first round of his debut against Gabriel Gonzaga when Gonzaga nailed him with one of the nastiest looking low blows in MMA history, the kind of kick right between the uprights which could send you to the Superbowl.   

    The kick was so bad, when Tuchscherer’s training partner, UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar, came to cage side to check on him, Tuchscherer told Lesnar “"My [testicle] is up inside my body."

   He was in so much pain, even after the five minute recovery period, he was not sure he could continue. Unfortunately though, inexperienced officials from the Oregon Athletic Commission could not answer his questions about what would happen should he be unable to continue.