JDS (photo) will do the main fight in Zagreb. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
This Sunday (10), the UFC will plant its flag in yet another new country in its global expansion. UFC Fight Night 86 will be held in the city of Zagreb, Croatia, and will represent an extremely important commitment for the former heavyweight champion junior gypsy.
The Brazilian, who had an overwhelming start to his career in the UFC until winning the title, is going through a moment of instability. After all, Cigano suffered two defeats in his last three fights, to Cain Velazquez (still in 2013) and for alistair overeem (December 2015).
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During this period, Cigano obtained victory over Stipe Miocic, the next fighter to compete for the title. Even though it was a positive result, the fight was quite close, with Cigano leaving the fight with a badly damaged face.
Due to the damage he suffered in his most recent fights, many believe that Cigano no longer has the physical conditions to perform like he used to. This is precisely the big challenge for the Brazilian: to prove that he can, indeed, get back on the path to the belt.
For the fight, Cigano trained fully at American Top Team, but brought back his old boxing master Luiz Dórea. Therefore, the expectation for Sunday is to see which Cigano will step into the octagon: the knockout artist from the old days, or the athlete who has suffered recent difficulties.
Tough competition
B. Rothwell (photo) has won four in a row. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
On the other side of the cage, however, the situation is tough. Ben Rothwell is in a great phase in his career, with four victories in a row, including over names like alistair overeem and Josh Barnett.
Brutal, the North American draws attention for his strength and unorthodox blows. His chokes in gogó, by the way, gave him two consecutive victories. As much as it seemed unimaginable a few years ago, Rothwell is in the position of a serious contender for the title fight, and a new positive result against Cigano could give him the chance he so desires.
More Brazil
Napão (photo) wants to continue with a positive trend. Photo: Nick Laham/Zuffa LLC
In addition to Cigano, the Croatian night will also feature two Brazilians, who, by the way, carry a rope around their necks. In the second most important fight of the night, the former heavyweight title challenger Gabriel Napao try to scare away the bad phase once and for all in the face of the dangerous Derrick Lewis.
Napão, who has already defeated Rothwell in the past, is looking for his second consecutive victory in the Octagon to resume his positive streak. Before that, the Rio native had lost three in a row, leaving him in a delicate position.
The other Brazilian of the night is lucas mineiro, who suffered defeats to the experienced Darren Elkins and the promising Mirsad Bektic. The Chute Boxe athlete is looking to turn things around against Robert Whiteford.
Check out the UFC Fight Night 86 technical sheet below:
DATE AND TIME: 10/04/2016, from 13pm (Brasília time)
PLACE: Arena Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
STREAMING: Combat Channel
MAIN CARD
Heavy: junior gypsy x Ben Rothwell
Heavy: Gabriel Napao x Derrick Lewis
Heavy: Francis Ngannou x Curtis blaydes
Heavy: Timothy Johnson x Marcin tybura
Light heavyweights: Igor Pokrajac x Jan Blachowicz
Straws: Maryna moroz x Cristina Stanciu
PRELIMINARY CARD
Welterweights: Nicholas Dalby x Zak Cummings
Roosters: Ian Entwistle x Alejandro Pérez
Mild: Mairbek Taisumov x Damir Hadzović
Roosters: Filip Pejic x Damian Stasiak
Feathers: Robert Whiteford x lucas mineiro
Heavy: Jared Cannonier x Cyril Asker
Welterweights: Bojan Velickovic x Alessio diChirico
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