Edgar (left) and Faber (right) are in the main fight of the night. Photo: Disclosure/UFC
After years and years of speculation, the biggest MMA organization on the planet will finally make its debut in the Philippines, in an event that will be held in the capital. UFC Fight Night 66 has a modest card, although some fights on the schedule may attract the attention of the general public for different reasons.
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Starting with the main fight of the attraction, between Frankie Edgar e Urijah faber. The marriage of the fight caused some strangeness at first, as Edgar is close to securing another chance to fight for the featherweight title and Faber has been in a prominent position for years in the lower division, the bantamweight division. However, Faber decided to return to his roots and return to the featherweight category, where he competed and was champion in the last decade in the WEC.
This, in fact, is a fight that has been dreamed of for years by the most serious MMA fans. hardcore, as Edgar and Faber have been in a prominent position in the lighter categories for a few years now. After a long time, Edgar will have a fight in which he has a size advantage, and he knows that a resounding victory over the “California Kid” could put him on a collision course with the winner of José Aldo x Conor McGregor. For Faber, the scenario is even more open: if he surprises and defeats the favorite Edgar, he would be on the verge of fighting for the title in the under-66 kg category or in his original division, whose current champion is his training partner TJ Dillashaw.
In the second most notable fight of the night, Gegard Mousasi will try to make a name for himself in the UFC and win his second victory in a row, something unprecedented until then. To do this, the young veteran, who is coming off a knockout victory over Dan Henderson, will face Costas Philippou, who is also trying to confirm his redemption after suffering two consecutive defeats in 2013 and 2014.
Another fight that draws attention is between the welterweights Neil Magny and Hyun Gyu Lim. Magny, who has been on an incredible six consecutive victories since the beginning of 2014, will have a tough challenge ahead against the South Korean, who impressed last year by adding to the Tarec saffiedine and quickly dispatch Takenori Sato.
The Philippine Destroyer's Farewell
M. Muñoz (photo) has been a professional in MMA since 2007. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
The Manila event will mark the farewell of one of the Philippines' most notorious representatives in MMA. Mark Muñoz, an American whose parents are Filipino, will hold his retirement fight in front of the Asian crowd, putting an end to a seven-year career in mixed martial arts.
Muñoz, who came very close to fighting for the middleweight belt, is going through a more than delicate moment in the UFC, with three defeats in the first round in his last three fights. Against TUF graduate Luke Barnatt, the fighter will have the opportunity to end his career with a flourish.
The only Brazilian at the event will be from Goiás Dhiego Lima. TUF 19 runner-up, Lima climbs into the Octagon looking to escape the machete, as he has two defeats in three fights in the UFC. His opponent will be the Chinese Jingliang Li, who is also coming off a defeat, to Nordine Taleb.
Check out the complete UFC FN 66 technical sheet below:
DATE AND TIME: 16/05/2015, from 7:50 pm (Brasília time)
PLACE: Mall of Asia Arena, Manila, Philippines
STREAMING: Combate Channel (complete card)
MAIN CARD
Feathers: Frankie Edgar x Urijah faber;
Medium: Gegard Mousasi x Costas Philippou;
Medium: Mark Muñoz x Luke Barnatt;
Welterweights: Neil Magny x Hyun Gyu Lim;
Feathers: Philippe Nover x Yui Chul Nam;
Feathers: Mark Eddiva x Levan Makashvili;
PRELIMINARY CARD:
Mild: Tae Hyun Bang x Jon Tuck;
Mild: Zhang Lipeng x Kajan Johnson;
Welterweights: Dhiego Lima x li jingliang;
Roosters: Ning Guangyou x Royston Wee;
Flies: Roldan Sangcha-An x Jon Delos Reyes;
Flies: Nolan Ticman x Yao Zhikui
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