When the UFC returns to Canada in August, entertaining Canadian lightweight Sam Stout will be there to get his home crowd going. Standing opposite Stout at UFC Fight Night 74 will be Frankie Perez, a New Jersey native who will be looking to silence the Saskatoon fans.
The UFC revealed the bout booking along with a second 155-pound contest at the event between Elias Silverio and Shane Campbell.
Although he’s still only 31 years old, Stout has been with the UFC since March 2006 and will step into the Octagon for the 20th time in his next outing. That said, Stout’s continued UFC career could depend on a win over Perez.
Once known for having an excellent chin, Stout has been knocked out in two straight bouts. A third straight defeat, no matter the method, could mean the end of Stout’s long run with the world’s top MMA promotion.
Despite the tough matchup, Perez could also be in a must-win situation. At 26 years old, Perez has potential, but he was stopped by Johnny Case in his UFC debut. An 0-2 start almost always sends prospects back to smaller shows, so Perez will need a strong showing against Stout.
As it stands, UFC Fight Night 74 is shaping up as a pretty solid card.
The show will be headlined by Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira, two rising stars who have championship potential in the 145-pound division. Additionally, a previously scheduled bout between Erick Silva and Rick Story has been moved to this card and will likely serve as the co-main event.
UFC Fight Night 74 is set to go down on August 23 at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Canada.
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