Another exciting match-up was added to UFC 194 in Las Vegas, as the promotion announced Friday that grappling experts Demian Maia and Gunnar Nelson are set to meet at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 12.
Coming off a dominant victory over Neil Magny in Augusts, snapping Magny’s seven-fight winning streak with a second-round submission in Rio de Janeiro, Maia (21-6) looks for his fourth straight victory after scoring wins over Alexander Yakovlev, Ryan LaFlare and Magny.
Nelson (14-1-1), who suffered his first professional loss to Rick Story last October, bounced back to the win column with a quick submission victory over dangerous Brandon Thatch in July. A training partner of Conor McGregor at SBG Ireland, “Gunny” is 5-1 inside the Octagon.
Headlined by Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor for the featherweight championship, UFC 194 will also feature a middleweight title bout between 185-pound kingpin Chris Weidman and former Strikeforce champion Luke Rockhold.
Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor
Chris Weidman vs. Luke Rockhold
Ronaldo Souza vs. Yoel Romero
Max Holloway vs. Jeremy Stephens
Urijah Faber vs. Frankie Saenz
Demian Maia vs. Gunnar Nelson
Warlley Alves vs. Colby Covington
Court McGee vs. Marcio Alexandre Jr.
John Makdessi vs. Yancy Medeiros
Leonardo Santos vs. Kevin Lee
Joe Proctor vs. Magomed Mustafaev
Michelle Waterson vs. Tecia Torres