Brazilian bantamweight prospect Johnny Eduardo has been sidelined due to injury, UFC president Dana White announced today. Stepping up to fight Michael McDonald at UFC 139 will be promotional newcomer Alex Soto, looking to keep his undefeated streak intact.
McDonald is UFC’s youngest fighter and one of its most exciting bantamweights; Soto is a Mexican immigrant who served in the US Army and currently works as a dolphin trainer for the US Navy.
Bailey vs. Castillo Set for San Jose updated October 18
“Two powerful wrestlers hungry for a win have verbally agreed to fight November 19 at UFC 139 as Danny ‘Last Call’ Castillo will take on Shamar Bailey,” confirmed UFC president Dana White late last night.
That lightweight bout completes the UFC 139 fight card, headlined by the matchup between PRIDE legends Dan Henderson and Shogun Rua.
Matt Brown Gets New Opponent, San Jose Date updated October 18
The UFC 139 fight card has received a new welterweight scrap due to an unwell Englishman across the pond.
Rising Brit welterweight John Hathaway has been forced to withdraw from November 5th’s UFC 138 event, confirmed UFC president Dana White today. Hathaway’s original opponent, Matt Brown, has verbally agreed to face “The Polish Pistola” Seth Baczynski instead in a bout now slated to take place at UFC 139 on November 19 in San Jose, CA.
Two Bantamweight Bouts Slated for San Jose updated September 27
San Jose fans got another surefire barnburner on their fight card today, as Dana White confirmed that Nick Pace and Miguel Torres have verbally agreed to a bantamweight bout.
In his last outing, Pace proved he could compete with longtime, experienced veterans in his three-round war against Ivan Menjivar. Now he faces another by taking on former bantamweight kingpin Torres, who long held the WEC title in that division.
A second bantamweight bout has also been confirmed for UFC 139. Michael McDonald, the UFC’s youngest fighter, and veteran Muay Thai specialist Johnny Eduardo have verbally agreed to meet in San Jose.
Wandy vs. Le, Shogun vs. Hendo at UFC 139 updated September 27
Don’t expect too much groundfighting on November 19th when “The Axe Murderer,” Wanderlei Silva welcomes former Strikeforce champion and renowned Sanshou fighter Cung Le to the Octagon in UFC 139 action. Silva replaces his countryman, Vitor Belfort (who was forced out of the bout due to injury) in what promises to be a slugfest to remember.
In the UFC 139 main event at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, a light heavyweight dream fight finally becomes a reality when former UFC champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua takes on the returning Strikeforce and former PRIDE champion Dan Henderson.
Light Heavyweight Wars Scheduled for November updated August 23
“Verbal agreements are in for a fight that promises non-stop action as Kyle Kingsbury will take on the ‘American Psycho’ Stephan Bonnar at UFC 139,” said UFC president Dana White today.
Both light-heavyweight sluggers are coming off decision wins earned in three-rounds wars — Bonnar against Igor Pokrajac at the TUF 12 Finale in December and Kingsbury over Fabio Maldonado at the TUF 13 Finale in June.
Also agreed to on that same fight card is a second light heavyweight showdown,
this one between Jason “Hitman” Brilz and Ryan “Darth” Bader.
Story-Kampmann on Tap for UFC 139 updated August 17
Welterweight contenders Rick Story and Martin Kampmann will return to the Octagon this November in a bout guaranteed to produce fireworks.
“A potential fight of the night has been verbally agreed to as Rick ‘The Horror’ Story will face Martin ‘The Hitman’ Kampmann at UFC 139,” said UFC President Dana White.
Tibau vs. Dos Anjos in Battle of Brazilians
“Two of the best Brazilian lightweights in the UFC have verbally agreed to fight as Rafael Dos Anjos takes on Gleison Tibau at UFC 139,” confirmed UFC president Dana White. The two black belts will war in San Jose this November.
Faber vs. Bowles Agreed to for UFC 139 in Nov. updated July 21
Two of the top bantamweights in the world will meet in one of the most intriguing bouts of 2011, as Urijah Faber takes on Brian Bowles. This verbally agreed to clash of former WEC champions will take place at UFC 139 in November.
“Before a possible trilogy can be considered between Urijah Faber and his rival, Champion Dominick Cruz, he will take on one of the division’s truly elite fighters, former Bantamweight Champion Brian Bowles,” said UFC President Dana White. “A win over Faber would be massive for Bowles’ bid to challenge for the belt that was once his. The stakes are high and the fight will be intense.”
Weidman vs. Lawlor Agreed to for UFC 139
This November’s UFC 139 card has begun to take shape, as middleweight phenom Chris Weidman has verbally agreed to face Ultimate Fighter veteran “Filthy” Tom Lawlor in what promises to be a fast-paced battle in one of the sport’s most competitive divisions.