It’s been quite an eventful week for the world’s largest mixed martial arts promotion in terms of breaking news, but the UFC has also been quite busy in booking fights for its upcoming spring and summer cards.
Clearly the biggest news came in the blockbuster formation of the quickly shaping-up-to-be epic UFC 200 from the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on July 9, 2016. The event got its rumored Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor main event, but another massive bout was added last night when news arrived that Jose Aldo would meet Frankie Edgar for the interim title belt on the card.
Today, after UFC president Dana White teased a big fight for women’s bantamweight champ Miesha Tate, we found out that former title contender (and Tate beater) Cat Zingano will potentially meet the champion’s good friend Julianna Pena at the developing super card. After Zingano recently teased an ‘epic’ summer return, this could be the top-ranked opponent she’s looking for.
Going with that theme, ‘Super’ Sage Northcutt was also slated for a return against debuting Enrique Marin.
Former welterweight champion Johny “Big Rigg” Hendricks will also return. He finds himself fighting former The Ultimate Fighter winner Kelvin Gastelum. Hendricks will look to bounce back after suffering a disappointing defeat to Stephen Thompson last February.
A highly intriguing clash between veteran warriors Diego Sanchez and Joe Lauzon was also added to action-packed schedule. If this bout doesn’t just scream blood and excitement, I’m not quite sure what does.
Also this week was the confirmation that Invicta FC featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Justino would finally be making her Octagon debut against Leslie Smith at May 14’s UFC 198 from Brazil.
Sticking with the females, it was also reported that former 115-pound title holder Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza would be making her return to action to replace Jessica Aguilar on short notice against Julianna Lima at April 23’s UFC 197 in Las Vegas.
Esparza has been sidelined since suffering a one-sided loss to reigning champion Joanna Jedrzeczyk at UFC 185 last March while Lima has won two straight.
Boosting an already packed card at May 29’s UFC Fight Night 88 from Las Vegas, a top bantamweight bout No. 4 Aljamain Sterling and No. 8 Bryan Caraway joined the Thomas Almeida vs. Cody Garbrandt main event at 135.
Following UFC 197 and UFC 198 will be June 4’s UFC 199 from The Forum in Inglewood, California. The promotion recently added a welterweight bout between Tom Breese and Sean Strickland to this card.
Piggy-backing off of these announcements, the UFC went to town on June 18’s UFC Fight Night 89 from Ottawa, Canada, rounding out the card with seven new bouts.
Steve Bosse, who is coming off of a knockout victory over James Te Huna, will meet Sean O’Connell, who is coming off of a first round stoppage defeat at the hands of Ilir Latifi, in a light heavyweight bout. Canadian middleweight Elias Theodorou will clash with the electrifying “Smilin’” Sam Alvey.
In addition, Jason Saggo has been scheduled to scrap with Leandro Silva, while Misha Cirkunov will welcome Ion Cutelaba to the UFC in a 205-pound contest.
The famed Tristar Gym in Canada will showcase a few more of its combatants as well, as Olivier Aubin-Mercier gets Thibault Gouti, and Alex Garcia signed on the dotted line to meet Colby Covington. Rounding out the madness at UFC Fight Night 89 will be a bout showcasing recent returnee and Bellator veteran Tamdan McCrory, who will meet Krzysztof Jotko.
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