Over the last week in the UFC, new kind of slowed down, due to it being a 2 event week. Even without many announcements, it didn’t mean we didn’t have big announcements.
July 14- The newest addition to September 27th’s UFC 178 is a Welterweight bout pitting Brian Ebersole (50-16-1) vs. John “Doomsday” Howard (22-9). Ebersole has seen a 11 fight win streak faded into the past with consecutive decision losses to James Head and Rick Story. Howard is 2-1 in his last 3 coming off a decision loss to Ryan LaFlare.
July 14- Lightweights Justin Edwards (8-4) and Yancy Medeiros (9-2) have agreed to meet at UFC 177 in Sacramento, on August 30. Edwards will be fighting for his job, most likely, being 1-3 in his last 4, coming off a Lightweight debut loss to Ramsey Nijem. Medeiros is 0-2-0, 1 nc in 3 UFC bout having his recent knock out win over Yves Edwards overturned after a failed post fight drug test.
July 14- Canadian Valarie Letourneau (6-3) will step into enemy territory to take on Brazil’s own Jessica Andrade (11-3) at UFC Fight Night 51 on September 13 in Brasilia, Brazil. 6-1 in her last 7, Letourneau made her octagon debut at UFC 174 taking a split decision from Elizabeth Philips; in what was the most entertaining bout of the event. Andrade is 2-1 in the UFC with back to back decision wins over Rosi Sexton and Raquel Pennington.
July 14- Also at UFC Fight Night 51 Igor Araujo (25-6) will take on fellow Welterweight George Sullivan (15-3). Araujo is on a 6 fight win streak, that includes UFC wins over Ildemar Alcantara and Danny Mitchell; while Sullivan won his 7th straight with a UFC debut decision win over Mike Rhodes.
July 15- TUF 8 winner Efrain Escudero (14-4) will begin his 3rd stint with the UFC at UFC Fight Night 51 against TUF Brazil alum Franciso Trinaldo (22-8). Escudero returns to the promotion on the strength of a 4-1 run. Trinaldo is 2-2 in his last 4 coming off a decision loss to Michael Chiesa.
July 15- UFC 177 has added a 2nd title bout with Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson defending the UFC Flyweight title against number 8 ranked Chris Cariaso (17-5). This fight comes together thanks to John Dodson the real number 1 contender, who was next in line, being sideline for the next year while recovering from ACL surgery. Johnson is 7-0-1 since dropping to Flyweight and is coming off a successful title defense at UFC 174 defeating Ali Bagautinov by unanimous decision. Carisao is 3-2 since dropping to Flyweight, with 3 straight wins over Illiarde Santos (TKO). Danny Martinez (UD), and Louis Smolka, none of whom are ranked anywhere near the top 10 of the division. Cariaso has just walked the least challenged path ever to a UFC Title shot. This Flyweight title bout will serve at the UFC 177 co-main event.
July 20- A Welterweight bout pitting Hyun Gyu Lim (12-4-1) vs. Takenori Sato (17-9-7) has been added to UFC Fight Night 52 in Japan on September 20. Lim, 2-1 in the UFC will be looking to rebound from a decision loss to Tarec Saffiedine, while Sato is coming off an on short notice TKO loss to Eric Silva; which ended a 10 fight winning streak.
