UFC 221: Romero and Rockhold duel for belt on Carnival Saturday

Romero (left) and Rockhold (right) duel at UFC 221. Photo: Produção SL / MMA Press

Carnival Saturday will also be exciting for MMA fans. While drums and tambourines play on the samba catwalks throughout Brazil, punches, kicks and the title dispute will be the attractions on the other side of the world. UFC 221 arrives in Perth, Australia, for a show with 12 fights and the promise of a lot of excitement. In the main attraction of the night, the North American Luke Rockhold and the Cuban Yoel romero duel for the interim middleweight belt.

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The second most important fight of the show features a duel of heavyweight knockout artists: The veteran Mark Hunt, 43 years old, faces the young man Curtis blaydesOf 26.

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Brazil will be represented on the card at flyweight Jussier formiga. The native of Rio Grande do Norte tries to score a victory over Ben Nguyen to finally have the chance to compete for the flyweight belt against the champion Demetrious Johnson.

Rockhold x Romero and the interim belt

Initially, the main fight of UFC 221 would be the dispute between the Australian Robert whittaker, who would defend the middleweight belt against Luke Rockhold. But the champion was injured during training and was out of action, frustrating the local fans. Even with the loss of the main star for the Australian public, Ultimate kept Rockhold on the card and called Yoel romero for the interim belt dispute.

PUBLICITY:

Romero is in first place in the division standings and has another chance at the category belt. The 'Soldier of God' faced Robert whittaker at UFC 213, in July last year, and lost by unanimous decision from the judges. The Cuban has a record of 12 wins and two losses.

In turn, Rockhold, second in the middleweight rankings, is trying to regain the title he once owned between 2015 and 2016. The North American, who took the Chris Weidman at UFC 194, in December 2015, but lost his title as champion shortly afterwards. At UFC 199, in June 2016, the North American was knocked out by the Englishman Michael Bisping. In his last fight, he defeated David Branch in September last year.

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Now, the two best classified in the category are fighting for the interim belt and the chance to unify the title when the champion Robert whittaker return to active.

Formiga and the victory for the belt

J. Formiga (photo) hopes for a chance at the belt (Photo: Reproduction Instagram ufc_brasil)

Jussier formiga He arrived at the UFC considered one of the greatest flyweights in the world. For most critics it was a matter of time before he had a chance at the title, but the Brazilian never managed to achieve a great moment in the franchise. Now, almost six years after his debut in the Octagon, Formiga is once again close to his big opportunity. But to do that he needs to beat Ben Nguyen.

PUBLICITY:

Formiga has a professional record of 20 wins and five losses as a professional. The Brazilian is coming off a triumph in his last fight, submitting Yuta Sasaki with a rear-naked choke in September last year.

In turn, Ben Nguyen is looking for his chance at the title. The American has a record of 16 wins and six losses as a professional. In his last fight, '10', as he is known, defeated Tim Elliott.