With a new look, UFC returns to Las Vegas with a modest card

Hendricks and Thompson duel in Las Vegas. Photo: Disclosure

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Velasquez is injured and Miocic faces Werdum for the heavyweight belt

Injured, Werdum is also left out of UFC 196

With no options, UFC 196 will have Hendricks x Thompson in the main fight

Historically, the UFC usually prepares gala attractions for the day before the Super Bowl, the American football league final. At this time of year, fights like Anderson Silva x Vitor belfort, Renan Barao x Urijah faber e José Aldo x Frankie Edgar have already been held, which may surprise fans with the fight that will headline the 2016 version of the card: John hendricks x Stephen Thompson.

For those who don't know, the card scheduled for this Saturday (6) has gone through several setbacks in recent weeks, including changes to the night's main fight and even the “demotion” of the attraction as a whole.

Originally, the main fight of the attraction would be a fight for the heavyweight belt, between the champion, Fabricio Werdum, and Cain Velazquez. However, the challenger was injured and was removed from the card, replaced by Stipe Miocic. Shortly after, it was the Brazilian's turn to announce that he would not fight, also due to an injury.

This caused a turnaround and caused the event, originally named UFC 196, to leave pay-per-view broadcasts and become part of North American cable television programming. Thus, Ultimate returns to its grandest stage, the MGM Grand Garden Arena, with a modest Fight Night show.

The new protagonists

It fell to the welterweights John hendricks e Stephen Thompson the mission to do the main fight. Combat doesn't have the same appeal as main event previous, but it is still an intriguing duel that has everything to please the fans.

J. Hendricks (photo) is a former welterweight champion. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

PUBLICITY:

Former champion of the category, Hendricks wants to prove that he still has fuel to burn at weight. This is because, in October last year, the fighter was forced to withdraw from a fight the day before after falling ill during the weight cut. This time leaner, Hendricks hopes to put aside his problems with the scale and get back on the path to victory, with an eye on a potential trilogy with the current champion of the category, his rival Robbie Lawler.

On the other side, however, the situation is tough. Thompson is a multi-time kickboxing world champion and has one of the most refined striking in all of MMA, with unorthodox and surprising strikes. In his most recent fight, “Wonderboy” delivered a plastic knockout to Jake ellenberger, with a well-aimed round kick to the head.

Hendricks has an efficient standup game, especially due to his powerful left hand. However, it remains to be seen whether the former champion will try to take risks against such a capable opponent, or whether he will return to his roots and focus on wrestling. In any case, whoever stands out will be in a privileged position.

The rest of the card

Feijão is the only Brazilian in the UFC in Las Vegas. Photo: Disclosure

As it is a Fight Night event, the night will not have many fights of great appeal. In the second most important fight of the night, the chubby Roy Nelson will try to get back to winning ways against Jared Rosholt. Already Joseph Benavidez pits Zach Makovsky in a duel between the top flyweights, which promises a lot of movement and technique in the Octagon.

The only Brazilian on the card is Rafael Feijão. The former Strikeforce champion faces Ovince St Preux with an eye on avoiding a new defeat, which could cause him to be fired from the organization. At the bottom of the card, another fight that draws attention: Mickey gall and Mike Jackson duel to see who will be the opponent of telecatch star CM Punk in his UFC debut.

Check out the UFC Las Vegas technical sheet below:

DATE AND TIME: 06/02/2016, from 21:45 pm (Brasília time)

PLACE: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, United States

STREAMING: Combat Channel

MAIN CARD

Welterweights: John hendricks x Stephen Thompson
Heavy: Roy Nelson x Jared Rosholt
Light heavyweights: Ovince St Preux x Rafael Feijão
Flies: Joseph Benavidez x Zach Makovsky
Light heavyweights: Misha Cirkunov x Alex Nicholson
Welterweights: Mike pyle x Sean Spencer

PRELIMINARY CARD

Mild: Josh Burkman vs. KJ Noons
Heavy: Derrick Lewis x Damian Grabowski
Flies: Ray Borg x Justin Scoggins
Feathers: Noad Lahat x Diego Rivas
Welterweights: Mickey gall x Mike Jackson
Feathers: Artem Lobov x Alex White