Tim Kennedy
A pair of middleweight matchups appears set for this May’s upcoming UFC on FX 8 event in former Strikeforce fighters Tim Kennedy (15-4) and Roger Gracie (6-1) as well as opponents C.B. Dollaway (13-4) and TUF Brazil winner Cezar ‘Mutant’ Ferreira (5-2).
News of both matchups comes via Brazilian news agency Portal do Vale Tudo who posted the news on Monday.
UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Rockhold (aka UFC on FX 8) is expected to take place on May 18, 2013 at the Arena Jaraguá in Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil. The event will see another pair of middleweights headline in former UFC champ Vitor Belfort and the final Strikeforce title holder Luke Rockhold.
Kennedy fought last January at the final Strikeforce event picking up a third round submission win over opponent Trevor Smith. The victory erased a loss in Kennedy’s last fight, a Strikeforce title bout versus Rockhold which ended in a decision for the defending champion.
Gracie was also in action at the final show, earning his second win at 185-lbs with a second round submission victory against newcomer Anthony Smith. That win followed his 185-lbs debut which saw him defeat Keith Jardine by decision in July at the Strikeforce event in Portland.
Dollaway is 2-2 in his last four, earning wins against Daniel Sarafian last January at UFC on FX 7 by split decision and over Jason Miller via unanimous decision at UFC 146. Dollaway had dropped two straight previously, losing to Jared Hamman at UFC on Versus 5 and to Mark Muñoz at UFC on Versus 3.
Ferreira was selected by his real coach Vitor Belfort to become a member of Team Belfort on the TUF: Brazil series. The ‘Mutant’ earned his way into the final where he faced housemate Sergio Moraes who stepped in as a replacement for Daniel Sarafian. Ferreira went on to win by decision to claim the TUF: Brazil middleweight tourny title.