Photo by Getty Images via UFC.com
A lightweight match appears to be in the works for the upcoming UFC on FOX 2 event between Evan ’3-D’ Dunham (12-2) and British submission ace Paul Sass (12-0).
News of the matchup surfaced at ESPN.co.UK Thursday, confirming that both fighters had verbally agreed to the January event.
UFC on FOX 2, the follow up to last months successful UFC on FOX: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos debut on FOX television, is expected to take place on January 28th at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The event headliner is expected to be a light heavyweight contest between former champ Rashad Evans, and ‘Mr. Wonderful’ Phil Davis.
Dunham was able to end a two-fight losing skid by earning a unanimous decision last September against Shamar Bailey. ’3-D’ earned the win at UFN 25 in New Orleans bouncing back from losses to Melvin Guillard at Fight for the Troops 2, and to Sean Sherk at UFC 119. Dunham had been scheduled to face George Sotiropoulus in July at UFC 132, but an injury forced ’3-D’ off the card.
Sass continued to impress in his last fight by remaining undefeated in his pro-career. The British fighter won his second Octagon appearance by submitting Michael Johnson in the first round at the UFC on Versus 6 event in Washington, D.C. this past October. The victory was his eleventh by submission, which includes a triangle choke submission win in his debut over Mark Holst at UFC 120.
Sass is obviously very dangerous on the ground, but he now faces a fighter some were calling the “next” great at 155 lbs. It will certainly be interesting to see who pulls of the victory, as a win for either should put them near the lower tier of the top fighters in the lightweight division.