The fight card for the UFC’s debut in Nottingham, England – officially UFC on FUEL 5 – continues to fill out. The UFC announced on Thursday the addition of England’s own Tom Watson to their middleweight roster and will have him face ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ season 11 cast member Brad Tavares in his Octagon debut.
Watson, 29, is a long-time staple of the British mixed martial arts regional circuit. He’s a multiple-time Cage Rage and BAMMA veteran and has only professionally competed twice outside of England when he fought a two-bout stint in Canada’s MFC in 2010. He holds notable victories over Murilo Rua, Alex Reid, John Maguire and Matt Horwich.
Tavares, 24, enters this bout having accumulated a UFC record of 3-1. He most recently defeated Dongi Yang at UFC on FUEL 3.
The UFC also announced on Thursday welterweights and U.K. residents John Hathaway and John Maguire have verbally agreed to face one another on that card.
Hathaway, 25, is on a two-fight win streak in the Octagon after suffering his only professional loss against Mike Pyle at UFC 120. He most recently defeated Kris McCray at UFC Fight Night 24 and Pascal Krauss at UFC on FOX 3.
Maguire, 29, is undefeated in his UFC run and will be making his third appearance in the Octagon when he faces Hathaway. Maguire won a unanimous decision victory over Justin Edwards at UFC 138 in his UFC debut and most-recently submitted DeMarques Johnson at UFC on FUEL 2.
Heavyweights Stipe Miocic and Stefan Struve are currently scheduled to headline this event. In addition, Dan Hardy will face Amir Sadollah, Paul Sass will square off against Matt Wiman and Duane Ludwig will fight fellow striker Che Mills.