PORT ARTHUR —   The Fox family of television networks begins its 2012 UFC season this Friday with UFC on FX 1. If the hurried Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos single bout event last November was a dress rehearsal, UFC on FX 1 represents Fox's first act. Expected will be an all new production for the promotion and an actual full fight card.

 The cutting edge FX network has a perfect marriage with the cutting edge sport of MMA now. Four bouts are on tap for FX on Friday night and seven preliminary bouts are to be aired on another Fox network, Fuel TV.

 Some of the bouts are quite compelling, but it's clear the special events are saved for Fox TV itself, starting again the following week with UFC on Fox 2.

 The network's seven-year deal with the UFC is brilliant. Demand from the highly coveted young demographic market will increase the demand for an entire suite of its stations, making FX and Fuel TV must-have channels.

 The prelims on Fuel are mostly filled with non-established up-and-coming fighters, however, there are some hidden gems within it.

 Former WEC lightweight standout Kamal "The Prince of Persia" Shalorus is slated for the undercard. The former undefeated fighter is set for his first return to fighting since his March 2011 loss to Jim Miller. Jorge "El Conquistador" Rivera is set to face fellow UFC veteran Eric "The Red" Schafer to cap off the prelim Fuel fights.

 The main card that airs on FX includes a welterweight matchup between two UFC staples, Duane "Bang" Ludwig and Josh "The Dentist" Neer. This is a well-matched pairing between two fighters whose records have always been around the middle of the pack.

 The main event of the evening is quite riveting. Melvin Guillard was on a five fight tear of not just winning but blasting away opponents, before he was upset last October at UFC 136: Houston by Joe Lauzon. Jim Miller was on a methodical seven fight winning streak of decisions, submissions, and knockouts, before he was stopped by Ben "Smooth" Henderson last August.

 Well, Guillard and Miller are set to go head-to-head in a lightweight final bout of the night. It's almost a bout that one hates because someone has to lose. Guillard and Miller were at the absolute cusp of getting title shots.

Now one of them will get sent down to the bottom of the hill with two consecutive losses.

 So be it with the revamped highly competitive UFC lightweight division.

 To view these bouts you can look online for FX's and Fuel's channels based on your cable or satellite provider. If you don't have those stations in your package you can ask your provider to add them. That, interestingly enough, may be part of Fox's plan.

 David Estrada Jr. is a Mixed Martial Arts columnist for the Port Arthur News. He can be e-mailed at DavidEstrada@DavidEstrada.com