J. Cigano (left) and S. Miocic (right) will face each other on May 24th. Photo: MMA Press Production (Josh Hedges/UFC)
After spending a long time away and even changing gyms after the defeat suffered by Cain Velazquez at the end of the trilogy between them, in October last year, the Brazilian Junior Gypsy returns to the octagon in May. On the 24th, in Las Vegas (USA), Cigano will face the North American of Croatian descent Stipe Miocic at UFC 173, the same event that hosts the middleweight belt dispute between Lyoto Machida e Chris Weidman. The information was released by Ultimate's official profiles on social media.
At 29, Junior Gypsy has a record of 16 wins and just three defeats – two of them to its great rival Cain Velazquez. Even with two defeats in his last three fights, the former heavyweight champion remains in first place in the 120 kg division according to the official Ultimate rankings. Already Stipe Miocic, 31 years old, has a record of 11 wins and just one loss as a professional – against the Dutch giant Stefan struve. Miocic comes from two consecutive victories, over Roy Nelson and the Brazilian Gabriel Napao.
UFC 173 takes place on May 24th, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, in Las Vegas (USA). Originally, the main fight of the night would be the middleweight title fight between Brazilian Vitor belfort and the North American Chris Weidman. However, faced with the extinction of exemptions for the use of TRT by the Nevada Athletic Commission and the impossibility of adapting to the new reality in time, Belfort ended up abandoning the confrontation. In his place, the UFC selected the former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida, who has already beaten Mark Muñoz and Gegard Mousasi since moving down to the 84 kg category.
Comments