The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is always going to promote upcoming events until there is no meat left on the bone.
After all, the global mixed martial arts (MMA) organization is destined to make money at every turn. Like it is in almost every other business, pushing your product is the first step in seeing revenue.
Well, UFC president Dana White did what any good promoter would do and called Sunday’s (May 29, 2016) UFC Fight Night 88 card live on FOX Sports 1 from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, the “sleeper card of the year,” courtesy of Twitter:
This card is so ridiculous!!! Sleeper card of the year this SUNDAY LIVE and FREE on @FS1!!!https://t.co/rVFCE6UN65
— Dana White (@danawhite) May 27, 2016
While White is going to do everything in his power to draw viewers to the television screen from all corners of the country on Memorial Day weekend, he may have a point. On paper, UFC Fight Night 88 is a vastly underrated product. One capable of producing fireworks from top to bottom.
The full UFC Fight Night 88 lineup is as follows:
FOX Sports 1 Main Event:
135 lbs.: Thomas Almeida vs. Cody Garbrandt
FOX Sports 1 Co-Main Event:
145 lbs.: Renan Barao vs. Jeremy Stephens
FOX Sports 1 Main Card (9 p.m. ET):
170 lbs.: Tarec Saffiedine vs. Rick Story
185 lbs.: Chris Camozzi vs. Vitor Miranda
170 lbs.: Jorge Masvidal vs. Lorenz Larkin
155 lbs.: Josh Burkman vs. Paul FelderFOX Sports 1 “Prelims” (7 p.m. ET):
135 lbs.: Jessica Eye vs. Sara McMann
135 lbs.: Aljamain Sterling vs. Bryan Caraway
155 lbs.: Diego Ferreira vs. Abel Trujillo
155 lbs.: Erik Koch vs. Joe ProctorUFC Fight Pass “Prelims” (6 p.m. ET):
185 lbs.: Alberto Uda vs. Jake Collier
265 lbs.: Chris DeLaRocha vs. Adam Milstead
With names like Sterling, Trujillo, Eye, and even Koch gracing the undercard, the action before the action is more than capable of carrying the load. Fortunately, the main card also sports a plethora of high-level divisional matchups focused around heavy-handed strikers, elite finishers, and rising contenders.
Even though White’s remarks come with the territory, he’s speaking the truth.
Stick with MMAmania for all things UFC Fight Night 88.