The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced two more bouts for it’s upcoming UFC 145 event in Montreal pitting lightweights John ‘The Bull’ Makdessi (9-1) and Anthony ‘The Assassin’ Njokuani (14-6, 1NC) against one another, as well as a welterweight match between Keith ‘The Polish Connection’ Wisniewski (28-13-1) against newcomer Chris ‘The Menace’ Clements (10-4).
Officials confirmed the bout Thursday night at UFC.com, while news of the Wisniewski vs. Clements bout surfaced this past week.
Two of the most exciting strikers in the lightweight division have verbally agreed to throw down in Montreal, Canada at UFC 145 as Anthony “The Assassin” Njokuani takes on John “The Bull” Makdessi.” Both men are coming off of disappointing December losses to high-level wrestlers, but should be able to show off their kickboxing chops against one another.
Also on that fight card, Canadian welterweight Chris “The Menace” Clements has verbally agreed to make his UFC debut against crafty veteran Keith Wisniewski. Clements is on a four-fight win stream that includes victories over two UFC veterans.
UFC 145 is expected to take place on March 24, 2012 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. The bout has already had eight fights confirmed for the card but is waiting to confirm the nights main event.
Canadian Makdessi suffered his first loss last month, losing by first round submission to Dennis Hallman at UFC 140. Hallman weighed in at 158.5 lbs for the fight and was obviously the much bigger fighter utilizing his size to manhandle ‘The Bull’ to a position where he could end the fight by submission. Previous to the loss Makdessi had won nine straight including his two UFC appearances, a KO win over Kyle Watson at UFC 129 and a decision victory against Pat Audinwood at UFC 124.
Njokuani also lost his last match but was only beaten by split decision, losing to Danny Castillo at UFC 141 just a couple of weeks ago. The loss puts ‘The Assassin’ at 1-1 in his last two and 2-3 in his last five. Njokuani’s last win came last July in a very one sided unanimous decision over Andre Winner which saw judges scores of 30–26, 30–26, and 30–27.
Wisniewski made his second appearance with the UFC in October losing to Josh Neer at the UFC on Versus 6 show, ending a six fight win streak. Those six wins did not take place in the UFC as the previous Octagon appearance for ‘The Polish Connection’ was back in November 2005 which saw him lose to Nick Thompson and was the start of a five fight losing skid.
Clements has won four straight and is 5-1 in his last six matches. The Team Tompkins fighter was last in action in December earning a third round TKO finish of former UFC vet Rich Clementi during a Score Fighting Series event in Ontario. All five of Clements wins have all come via (T)KO.