
The last three months of 2015 are gearing up to be the busiest and the best of the year. The UFC will be holding 11 events in 13 weeks, with six championships on the line. For the average MMA fan, it’s a lot to take in. Michael Hutchinson breaks down what the rest of the year has in store.
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On September 27th, the UFC heads to Japan for UFC Fight Night. Notable fights on the card include the headliner of Josh Barnett against Roy Nelson and a Middleweight bout between Gegard Mousasi and Uriah Hall.
A week later on October 3rd the UFC travels to Houston Texas for UFC 192. Light-heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier takes on Alexander Gustafsson, then there’s Johny Hendricks vs. Tyron Woodley, Ryan Bader vs. Rashad Evans, Jessica Eye vs. Julianna Pena and Joeseph Benavidez vs. Ali Bagautinov.
The UFC goes on a holiday for two weeks before heading off to Dublin, Ireland for UFC Fight Night. Dustin Poirier takes on Ireland’s own Joseph Duffy in the main event, while Stipe Miocic fights Ben Rothwell in the co-main event.
A week of no action is quickly followed by four straight weekends with UFC events. The first takes place in Sao Paulo, Brazil and features a rematch between Vitor Belfort vs. Dan Henderson. Glover Teixeira takes on surging Light Heavyweight Pat Cummins in the co-main event.
A week later the UFC travels to Australia for UFC 193. Champions Ronda Rousey and Joanna Jedrzejczyk take on heavy underdogs Holly Holm and Valerie Letourneau. Mark Hunt and Bigfoot Silva will attempt to re-create the magic of their first fight, while Michael Bisping takes on Australia’s Robert Whittaker.
Six days later the UFC heads back to the western hemisphere for The TUF Latin America 2 Finale. The card is headlined by Matt Brown and Kelvin Gastelum. Other notable fights on the card include Ricardo Lamas vs Diego Sanchez and Jussier Formiga vs. Henry Cejudo.
To finish up November the UFC will be heading back to the eastern hemisphere for UFC Fight Night: Henderson/ Alves. The card is currently headlined by Benson Henderson and Thiago Alves, with Mirco Cro Cop, Dong Hyun Kim and Yoshihiro Akiyama all scheduled to fight.
The UFC then takes a much needed week off before heading into the busiest week in UFC history. The UFC has scheduled three cards in three days. On Thursday the UFC will hold UFC Fight Night 80. The card’s main event features a strawweight fight between Paige VanZant and Joanne Calderwood. The TUF 22 Finale takes place on the Friday with Frankie Edgar and Chad Mendes main-eventing. Khabib Nurmagomedov is also scheduled to fight on the card against Tony Ferguson.
Then on Saturday, it’s the event that everyone has been waiting for, and most hope will stay intact. UFC 194 will feature a stacked main card with two title fights and key divisional matchups. Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor will fight in the main event to unify the UFC Featherweight Championship. Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman will face one of his toughest tasks to date in Luke Rockhold. Jacare Souza takes on Yoel Romero and Miesha Tate vs Amanda Nunes has been rumoured for the card. Other notable fights that could find their way onto the main card are Max Holloway vs. Jeremy Stephens, Tecia Torres vs. Michelle Waterson, Demian Maia vs. Gunnar Nelson.
To end off the calendar year, the UFC heads to Orlando Florida for UFC on Fox: Dos Anjos vs. Cerrone. The card currently has a Lightweight title fight between Rafael dos Anjos and Donald Cerrone as the main attraction, with Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem co-main eventing. Michael Johnson will take on Nate Diaz, who has not fought since December of last year.
So that’s what the next three months for the UFC looks like. To give you a quick recap of all of the major fights in the next three months we’ll be seeing:
Gegard Mousasi vs. Uriah Hall
Josh Barnett vs. Roy Nelson
Rashad Evans vs. Ryan Bader
Johny Hendricks vs. Tyron Woodley
Daniel Cormier vs. Alexander Gustafsson
Dustin Poirier vs. Joe Duffy
Vitor Belfort vs. Dan Henderson
Mark Hunt vs. Bigfoot Silva 2
Joanna Jedrequcke vs. Valeria Latourneua
Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm
Matt Brown vs. Kelvin Gastelum
Benson Hendrson vs. Thiago Alves
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson
Frankie Edgar vs. Chad Mendes
Max Hollaway vs. Jeremy Stephens
Gunnar Nelson vs. Damian Maia
Miesha Tate vs. Amanda Nunes
Jacare Souza vs. Yoel Romero
Chris Weidman vs. Luke Rockhold
Conor McGregor vs. Jose Aldo
Michael Johnson vs. Nate Diaz
Junior Dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem
Rafael Dos Anjos vs. Donald Cerrone
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