Dana White & Miguel Torres at UFC 141 pre-fight press conference
Officials with the Ultimate Fighting Championship have made the upcoming UFC 145 pay-per-view event a six-fight main card adding a bantamweight bout between former WEC champ Miguel Torres (40-4) and Michael ‘Mayday’ McDonald (14-1).
UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans is scheduled to take place on April 21, 2012 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
In a released statement from earlier today, both fighters were very positive about the move to the pay-per-view card.
“Fighting on Pay-Per-View is special to me,” said Torres. “I would watch the big boxing cards with my father as a kid, and my father would well up with pride and emotion when guys like Julio Cesar Chavez fought. I’d never seen my father show so much emotion and I am proud to become an extension of that great Mexican fighting legacy in the UFC.”
McDonald said: “I think Miguel Torres is definitely the most significant opponent I’ve ever faced on a business perspective. Now it’s my chance to prove to myself that I can do what I think I can do on a huge Pay-Per-View event.”
Torres is 1-1 in his last two and is 3-1 in his last four. The former WEC champ has his first bout since being released last December over a controversial Twitter post. Torres made amends for his actions and was re-instated by UFC president Dana White at a press conference for UFC 141. The fighter had his last fight in November, a 141-lbs catchweight bout versus Nick Pace. The UFC 139 match ended in a decision for Torres.
McDonald is riding a seven fight win streak and is so far 3-0 in the Octagon with two “Fight Night” bonuses in that stretch. He last appeared in the Octagon last November at the same UFC 139 show, winning via first round knockout against Alex Soto at the San Jose show. His other Octagon wins include a split decision against Chris Cariaso and a decision against Edwin Figueroa.