It’s going on two weeks since the last UFC event, but before withdrawal sets in, UFC Fight Night 35 has appeared on the horizon. Headlining the card is a tantalising middleweight bout between former Strikeforce champ Luke Rockhold and boxing powerhouse Costa Philippou.
However, expect the lighter weight classes to steal the show on Wednesday, with bantamweights T.J. Dillashaw and Mike Easton facing each other in a match with Fight of the Night written all over it.
That will be nothing new for these two. Both men scored Fight of the Night honors in their last outings, even though both men lost close split decisions. That will just add intensity to a must-win bout for the pair.
That’s not to say there isn’t plenty of interest elsewhere on the card.
The main event will see two top-10 185-pounders go at it, with both Rockhold and Philippou as potential contenders in their divisions. However, this is a grappler vs. striker match and you should expect the fighters to play to their strengths—meaning a lot of clinching from Rockhold and, depending on Philippou’s takedown defence, much of it could be ineffectual.
Elsewhere, be sure to check out Charlie Brenneman’s return to the UFC after a 16-month hiatus. He was initially cut in 2012 after struggling in the UFC’s welterweight division, but since his release he’s gone on a remarkable four-fight winning streak as a lightweight.
Brenneman has become a submission machine and his opponent, Beneil Dariush, is in for a short night if he gets ahold of him.
Dariush brings plenty of threat himself, though, as he’s coming off six straight wins leading up to his UFC debut on Wednesday. However, he doesn’t have anywhere near the experience of Brenneman and this is likely to be a very one-sided affair.
Another fighter to watch is middleweight Brad Tavares, who is looking to cap five straight wins on the night. His opponent, Lorenz Larkin, is a Strikeforce veteran and quite possibly the most dangerous man Brennaman has faced.
However, the Dillashaw-Easton fight will pit two sluggers who both love to push the pace against each other. That makes for a volatile mix, which is what makes this the fight to watch.
UFC Fight Night 35 takes place on Jan 15. at the Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Ga.
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