The inaugural card for UFC on FOX Sports 1 is taking shape. Former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem will take on Greg Jackson-trained Travis Browne as part of that event’s main card.
However, it will not serve as the event’s headlining bout, according to MMA Junkie who first reported the story. MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani has confirmed the booking.
UFC on FOX Sports 1’s first event takes place at the TD Garden in Boston, Mass. on Aug. 17th. The event is part of the launch of the new sports channel, which goes live and operational that day.
Browne, 30, most recently competed for the UFC in April where he defeated Gabriel Gonzaga by first-round knockout at The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale in Las Vegas, Nevada. While the win was controversial due to the location of some of Browne’s elbows to the back of Gonzaga’s head, and Gonzaga formally protested the result to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the win was not overturned. Browne is 5-1-1 in the UFC and 14-1-1 in professional MMA.
Overeem, 33, last competed at UFC 156 where he was upset in a stoppage loss by Antonio Silva in the third round of their February tussle. The Blackzillian is 1-1 overall in the UFC with his lone victory being a first-round TKO stoppage of former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar at UFC 141 in December of 2011. He is 36-12 with 1 no-contest in professional MMA.