The UFC on FOX event in Seattle has a pair of new fights and a heavyweight bout has been added to UFC 162.
Tarec Saffiedine, the final Strikeforce welterweight champion, makes his UFC debut against Robbie Lawler at Key Arena on July 27. Additionally, lightweight Bobby Green returns to the Octagon and faces Danny Castillo. Meanwhile, Shane Del Rosario and Dave Herman will square off at UFC 162 on July 6 in Las Vegas.
The UFC announced the bouts via Twitter on Thursday.
Saffiedine (14-3), who trains with Dan Henderson at Team Quest in Temecula, Calif., has won four straight bouts and seven of his past eight. His most recent win was an upset victory over Nate Marquardt for the welterweight title on the final Strikeforce card. Lawler (20-9, 1 no-contest), meanwhile, is a veteran of the sport. The former EliteXC middleweight champ returned to the UFC at UFC 157 in February after a nine-year absence and scored a brutal knockout of Josh Koscheck.
Green (20-5) seemed long pegged as a Southern California journeyman, but he’s come into his own over the past two years. The brawler has won five straight, including a victory over Jacob Volkmann in his UFC debut on Feb. 2, which earned him submission of the night honors. Castillo (15-5), meanwhile, is a Team Alpha Male fighter who has won four of his past five bouts, most recently a decision victory over Paul Sass.
Del Rosario (10-2) vs. Herman (20-5), frankly, could be a fight in which both are looking to keep their jobs. Del Rosario is 0-2 in the UFC and has suffered bad knockouts to Stipe Miocic and Pat Barry in the process. Herman has been finished in his past three UFC fights and tested positive for marijuana after his October loss to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.