A hard-hitting Lightweight showdown is set to invade Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has officially booked a fight between Edson Barboza and Justin Gaethje to headline UFC on ESPN 2 on March 30.
Barboza recently snapped a two-fight skid after he dominated Dan Hooker from pillar to post before scoring a third round technical knockout at UFC on FOX 31 last December (see it). Currently ranked at No. 6, the Brazilian bomber has garnered the reputation as one of the most vicious and technical strikers in all of mixed martial arts (MMA), which is right up Justin’s alley.
Speaking of which, Gaethje also got back on the winning track in his last outing by knocking out James Vick in 87 seconds last August in Lincoln, Nebraska (see it again here). As expected, “Highlight” scored another $50,000 “Performance of the Night” check after making quick work of “The Texecutioner.”
Now, he will look to add to his already-impressive highight reel when he takes on a man who — like himself — prefers to stand-and-bang.
Also on the card, Michelle Waterson will face former women’s Strawweight title contender Karolina Kowalkiewicz in a pivotal 115-pound matchup.