http://mmajunkie.com/2014/03/francis...ki-at-ufc-173/
With opponent T.J. Dillashaw (9-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) promoted to a headlining spot, his original opponent, Takeya Mizugaki (19-7-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC), now has a new matchup, as well.
Bantamweight Francisco Rivera (10-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) has stepped in to fight Mizugaki, UFC officials today told MMAjunkie.
After UFC 173 lost a planned headliner between Chris Weidman and Lyoto Machida, Dillashaw was booked to fight bantamweight champion Renan Barao (32-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in the event’s new championship main event. MMAjunkie first reported the fight on Thursday.
UFC 173 takes place May 24 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The main card, including Barao vs. Dillashaw and Mizugaki vs. Rivera, airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.
Mizugaki is ranked No. 12 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA bantamweight rankings. Rivera is an honorable mention.
Mizugaki, a former WEC title challenger, has won four straight fights, all by decision. The 30-year-old Japanese fighter’s recent wins have come over the likes of Nam Phan, Erik Perez and Bryan Caraway. He hasn’t lost a bout in more than two years, when Chris Cariaso beat him via decision at UFC 144.
Rivera, meanwhile, is 3-0 (with one no-contest) since returning to the UFC for a second stint. Although Reuben Duran choked him out at the TUF 13 Finale in 2011, the 32-year-old Californian in undefeated since then with two wins at Tachi Palace Fights and his current winning streak with the UFC, which includes back-to-back TKO wins over Edwin Figueroa and George Roop.
The full UFC 173 card now includes:
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
Champ Renan Barao vs. T.J. Dillashaw - for UFC bantamweight title
Junior dos Santos vs. Stipe Miocic
Takeya Mizugaki vs. Francisco Rivera
Tony Ferguson vs. Katsunori Kikuno
James Krause vs. Jamie Varner
PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX Sports 1, 8 p.m. ET)
Michael Chiesa vs. Francisco Trinaldo
Chris Holdsworth vs. Kyung Ho Kang
Mitch Clarke vs. Al Iaquinta
Anthony Njokuani vs. Vinc Pichel
PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass, 6:30 p.m. ET)
Yves Edwards vs. Piotr Hallmann
Doo Ho Choi vs. Sam Sicilia
Jingliang Li vs. Danny Mitchell
With opponent T.J. Dillashaw (9-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) promoted to a headlining spot, his original opponent, Takeya Mizugaki (19-7-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC), now has a new matchup, as well.
Bantamweight Francisco Rivera (10-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) has stepped in to fight Mizugaki, UFC officials today told MMAjunkie.
After UFC 173 lost a planned headliner between Chris Weidman and Lyoto Machida, Dillashaw was booked to fight bantamweight champion Renan Barao (32-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in the event’s new championship main event. MMAjunkie first reported the fight on Thursday.
UFC 173 takes place May 24 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The main card, including Barao vs. Dillashaw and Mizugaki vs. Rivera, airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.
Mizugaki is ranked No. 12 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA bantamweight rankings. Rivera is an honorable mention.
Mizugaki, a former WEC title challenger, has won four straight fights, all by decision. The 30-year-old Japanese fighter’s recent wins have come over the likes of Nam Phan, Erik Perez and Bryan Caraway. He hasn’t lost a bout in more than two years, when Chris Cariaso beat him via decision at UFC 144.
Rivera, meanwhile, is 3-0 (with one no-contest) since returning to the UFC for a second stint. Although Reuben Duran choked him out at the TUF 13 Finale in 2011, the 32-year-old Californian in undefeated since then with two wins at Tachi Palace Fights and his current winning streak with the UFC, which includes back-to-back TKO wins over Edwin Figueroa and George Roop.
The full UFC 173 card now includes:
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
Champ Renan Barao vs. T.J. Dillashaw - for UFC bantamweight title
Junior dos Santos vs. Stipe Miocic
Takeya Mizugaki vs. Francisco Rivera
Tony Ferguson vs. Katsunori Kikuno
James Krause vs. Jamie Varner
PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX Sports 1, 8 p.m. ET)
Michael Chiesa vs. Francisco Trinaldo
Chris Holdsworth vs. Kyung Ho Kang
Mitch Clarke vs. Al Iaquinta
Anthony Njokuani vs. Vinc Pichel
PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass, 6:30 p.m. ET)
Yves Edwards vs. Piotr Hallmann
Doo Ho Choi vs. Sam Sicilia
Jingliang Li vs. Danny Mitchell
No comments:
Post a Comment