C. Gadelha (left) and T. Lahdemaki (right) in the first face-off in the history of the UFC strawweight category. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
Generally, the fights that open the Ultimate cards are those that are less important on the schedule or that involve athletes who are still looking for their place in the organization or in the sport. However, this Wednesday (16), in Atlantic City (USA), the old maxim will not be confirmed and the first fight of the night has everything to be one of the most memorable. This is because when the Brazilian Claudia Gadelha and Finnish Tina Lahdemaki step into the Octagon, the new women's strawweight category will officially be inaugurated, with a weight limit of up to 52,1 kg.
At the opposite end of the card, in the main fight of the night, two of the main names in the lightweight division duel for a chance to get closer to the top of the category, with “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone, specialist in striking, facing Jim Miller, who has a strong base in ground fighting and already has no less than 14 submissions in his career. The classic clash Striker vs Grappler (striking athlete against grappling athlete) was chosen to complete a program full of Brazilians from start to finish.
Only on the main card of the night are four fighters from Brazil: Edson Barboza, which is the co-main event of the night against Evan dunham; Leonardo Macarrão, former TUF Brasil 1 participant who returns to Ultimate to face Canadian Rick Story; John Lineker, who made weight again without any problems and faces Turkish Alpetekin Ozkilic; It is lucas mineiro, who moved up a category, and again as a featherweight, faces the undefeated Alex White.
Check out the complete UFC Fight Night 45 card below, which starts at 19pm (Brasília time):
MAIN CARD
Light weight (up to 70,3 kg): Donald Cerrone x Jim Miller;
Light weight (up to 70,3 kg): Edson Barboza x Evan dunham;
Welterweight (up to 77 kg): Rick Story x Leonardo Macarrão;
Lightweight (up to 70,3 kg): Joe Proctor x Justin Salas;
Flyweight (up to 57 kg): John Lineker x Alptekin Ozkilic;
Featherweight (up to 66 kg): lucas mineiro x Alex White.
PRELIMINARY CARD
Lightweight (up to 70,3 kg): Gleison Tibau x Pat Healy;
Bantamweight (up to 61,2 kg): Jessamyn Duke x Leslie Smith;
Bantam weight (up to 61,2 kg): aljamain sterling x Hugo Wolverine;
Lightweight (up to 70,3 kg): Yosdenis Cedeño x Jerrod Sanders;
Straw weight (up to 51,2 kg): Claudia Gadelha x Tina Lahdemaki.
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