Rockhold (left) and Bisping (right) have a rematch at UFC 199. Photo: Disclosure/UFC
The UFC returns with another event in pay-per-view, this Saturday (4), with UFC 199 taking place in the Los Angeles region, in the United States. And, in the two most important fights of the attraction, two rematches put belts at stake in the middleweight and bantamweight divisions.
In the main fight of the night, Luke Rockhold will make his first title defense at 84 kg against Michael Bisping. The two athletes will be looking for consecration, even if it is in almost opposite ways.
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Rockhold won the belt in December last year, when he beat Chris Weidman at UFC 194. The rematch would take place at UFC 199, but the former champion was injured and was cut at the last minute. Facing an opponent he has already beaten in the past, Rockhold wants to go through the test of his first title defense, something that has bothered other champions in the past.
Bisping is now looking to reach the top after more than ten years of his career in Ultimate. The Englishman came close to competing for the title on other occasions in the past, but he always “died on the beach” and lost important fights. Now, with Weidman's injury, Bisping will have his long-awaited chance, although his mission will not be easy.
The “Conde” is coming off the most important victory of his career, when he beat Anderson Silva in February. However, he will face his last tormentor, who finished him off in November 2014. If he achieves a victory that in theory seems unlikely, Bisping will consecrate once and for all a long and troubled career in the sport.
Cruz and Faber put an end to their long rivalry
Faber (left) and Cruz (right) will face each other for the third time. Photo: Disclosure/UFC
In the second most important fight of the night, another rematch between old acquaintances. Dominick Cruz will defend the bantamweight title against Urijah faber, closing a trilogy that had its first chapter in the distant year of 2007.
So far, there is a victory for each side: in the first, it was Faber via submission, and, in the second, it was Cruz via judges' decision. The third duel, however, takes place when both athletes face different moments.
Cruz recovered from a long period of inactivity to win the title against TJ Dillashaw, in January. Back after less than five months, the champion finally finds his fighting rhythm again, and the expectation is that he will present himself in an even sharper manner in the Octagon.
Faber, in turn, is not in the most spectacular phase of his career. In the bantamweight category, the “California Kid” comes from victory over the unimpressive Alex Caceres, Francisco Rivera and Frankie Saenz. However, they are old rivals who will do everything to break the tie in their favor.
The other highlights
Veteran Henderson faces Lombard at UFC 199. Photo: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
UFC 199 could also mark the veteran's farewell Dan Henderson of the fights. The organization's oldest active athlete, aged 45, the North American will face Hector Lombard the last fight of his current UFC contract.
Henderson has already admitted that he remains undecided about his future. With a largely negative recent record, with six defeats in his last eight fights, a new setback could put an end to his long and successful career.
The night will also put two prominent fighters in the featherweight category face to face. Max Holloway, who is looking for a chance to fight for the belt, will have an important test against Ricardo Lamas, a former title challenger.
UFC 199 will feature two Brazilians, with both fighting on the preliminary card. Jéssica “Bate-Estaca” Andrade makes her strawweight debut against former title challenger Jessica penne. Luiz Henrique da Silva takes Jonathan Wilson.
Check out the UFC 199 technical sheet below:
DATE AND TIME: 03/06/2016, from 19:15 pm (Brasília time)
PLACE: The Forum, Inglewood, California (USA)
STREAMING: Combat Channel
MAIN CARD
Medium: Luke Rockhold x Michael Bisping
Roosters: Dominick Cruz x Urijah faber
Feathers: Max Holloway x Ricardo Lamas
Medium: Dan Henderson x Hector Lombard
Mild: Dustin poirier x Bobby Green
PRELIMINARY CARD
Feathers: Brian ortega x Clay guida
Mild: Beneil Dariush x James Vick
Straws: Jessica penne x Jessica Andrade
Feathers: Cole Miller x Alex Caceres
Welterweights: Sean Strickland x Tom Breese
Light heavyweights: Jonathan Wilson x Luiz Henrique da Silva
Medium: Kevin Casey vs Elvis Mutapcic
Mild: Polo Reyes x Dong Hyun Kim
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