(What could’ve been, now finally is. via Sherdog)
It may have taken two extra years, a failed drug test, and a series of tough, tough losses on both sides of the equation, but it looks like we will finally be seeing Junior Dos Santos and Alistair Overeem throw down after all.
The announcement came via the UFC last night:
It’s the most heated rivalry in the heavyweight division today, and on Saturday, Dec. 19, Junior Dos Santos and Alistair Overeem settle the score in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.
In the FOX-televised card’s main event, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone challenges for a UFC title for the first time when he battles lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos in a highly-anticipated rematch.
That’s right, not only are we getting Ubereem vs. JDS, but we’re getting it on a card that is already ridiculously stacked, and FO FREE. Get hype, Nation.
Dos Santos enters this bout having not fought since December of 2014, wherein he picked up a controversial decision over Stipe Miocic in at UFC on FOX 13. Overeem, on the other hand, is riding a two-fight win streak over Stefan Struve and Roy Nelson, the latter of whom he bested via unanimous decision at UFC 185.
This is a fight that we’ve been waiting on for years, and one so heated that it can even draw a good guy like dos Santos to trash-talk.
“I don’t choose opponents, but I’m not gonna lie — it will feel great to shut this guy up,” said dos Santos posted on his Instagram following the announcement. “USADA Let’s work. I hope he doesn’t fail the drug test this time.”
Yes, let us hope.
In other fight booking news, featherweight contenders Frankie Edgar and Chad Mendes are also set to do battle in the main event of TUF 22 Finale, which transpires just eight days prior to UFC on FOX 17 at a Las Vegas venue yet to be announced. Edgar has arguably looked better than ever since dropping to featherweight, collecting four straight wins over the likes of Urijah Faber, Cub Swanson, B.J. Penn and Charles Oliveira. Despite rallying for a title shot on social media lately, Edgar will instead face the last man to fight for the one true featherweight title, Mendes, who also happens to be on the heels of a TKO loss to Conor McGregor at UFC 189.
It would be hard not to see the winner of this headliner not receiving a(nother) shot at the Aldo-McGregor winner, especially considering that’s it’s been booked for the finale of the TUF season that McGregor will coach, but who knows? Maybe Aldo will pull out with injury again, and we’ll get McGregor vs. Faber vs. Edgar vs. Mendes in a fatal four, TLC match for the one true belt. Crazier things have happened, Nation.
The post Edgar vs Mendes (!), Dos Santos vs. Overeem (!!) Locked In For TUF 22 Finale, UFC on FOX 17 appeared first on Cagepotato.