Two experienced strikers, both badly in need of a win, are set to face off when the UFC returns to England for UFC on Fuel TV 5 in Nottingham on September 29th. England’s own, Che Mills, tweeted today that’s been booked to face veteran muay thai specialist, Duane Ludwig, on the card:
Mills had his most recent taste of success the last time the UFC visited the U.K. back in November of 2011 when he knocked out Chris Cope in his official UFC debut (Mills had been eliminated during the US vs. UK season of TUF). Unfortunately for Mills, the UFC didn’t do him any favors by booking him against Canadian wunderkind, Rory MacDonald for his second fight, and MacDonald had his way with Mills, thrashing the Brit for a second-round TKO in April. “Bang” Ludwig, always a fan-favorite throughout his extensive, 12-year MMA career, finds himself facing a possible release by the UFC if he loses a third straight here. In his last two outings, he was choked out by brawler, Josh Neer, and then knocked out by the less polished Dan Hardy, who many expected Ludwig to hold a striking advantage over. Nonetheless, like in the Hardy fight, it’s unlikely this fight will see much grappling action, and it will be a test of which fighter has the superior striking technique.
Che Mills (14-5, 1 NC)
L Rory MacDonald (TKO) – UFC 145
W Chris Cope (TKO) – UFC 138
W Marcio Cesar (KO) – BAMMA 6
Duane “Bang” Ludwig (21-13)
L Dan Hardy (KO) – UFC 146
L Josh Neer (submission) – UFC on FX 1
W Amir Sadollah (unam. decision) – UFC on Versus 5