Don’t forget! This Sunday is UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs Arlovski!
While many of us are looking forward to UFC 198 and other future events, it’s all to easy to overlook this weekend’s great fight night card. Landing down in The Netherlands for the first time, the UFC will be bringing a lot of great match ups on Sunday. At the top of it all is a pivotal clash between two heavyweight veterans, Alistair Overeem and Andrei Arlovski. Both of these men are exceptional strikers and have had long and illustrous careers in combat sports. Also included is some great talent located further down the card – let’s take a look at those first:
Fight Pass Prelims
Starting the action off for UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs Arlovski is a triage of bouts which will be streamed on UFC Fight Pass. Flyweights Ulka Sasaki and Willie Gates start off the action to be followed by a welterweight collision between Leon Edwards and Dominic Waters. Gates was originally scheduled to face Irishman Paddy Holohan, but after citing a rare blood disease, Holohan was forced to retire – in steps Ulka Sasaki on short notice. Meanwhile, at welterweight, Leon Edwards meets Dom Waters. Edwards had a hint of momentum following an 8-second KO win over Seth Baczynski back in April of 2015. However, a decision loss to Kamaru Usman has halted this momentum. He’ll be trying to gain it back against TUF competitor Dominic Waters, a man who has had the potential but has yet to put to all together.
Topping off the UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs Arlovski Fight Pass prelims is a flyweight tilt between Kyoji Horiguchi and Neil Seery. Horiguchi challenged Demetrious Johnson for his title back in April of 2015; while he fell short, he is still one to keep an eye on as he progresses. He bounced back with a decision win over Chico Camus, and now meets Seery. “2Tap” is coming off a performance of the night win over Jon Delos Reyes when he choked out Reyes with a guillotine in front of his home Irish crowd. This bout between Horiguchi and Seery could be a wild one so be sure to tune in early Sunday to UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs Arlovski on Fight Pass.
FS 1 Prelims
Coming to us by way of Fox Sports 1, the preliminary card will begin with a lightweight bout featuring Yan Cabral and Reza Madadi. Cabral, a submission specialist born in Brazil but fighting out of Spain, currently holds a 2-2 record in the UFC. He’ll be facing “Mad Dog” Madadi who is looking for his first win since going to prison in 2013 and being released in March of 2015. Madadi dropped a decision to Norman Parke in Ireland in his first fight since prison.
More lightweights take the stage as UFC newcomer Josh Emmett steps in on just six days notice against Jon Tuck. Emmett replaces Nick Hein who had to pull out due to injury. Emmett will be making his debut while Tuck puts his 3-2 UFC record on the line. Moving on, Swedish middleweight Magnus Cedenblad returns to the Octagon after a 19-month lay off. Cedenblad was on a 3-fight win streak since his hiatus, and will be meeting South African Garreth McLellan.
Topping off the UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs Arlovski prelims is a lightweight bout between Chris Wade and Rustam Khabilov. Wade was originally scheduled to face 4-0 UFC veteran Rashid Magomedov, but Magomedov pulled out in early March and is being replaced by Khabilov. This will be Wade’s biggest test to date, but has shown considerable promise in his 4-0 UFC stint thus far. Khabilov on the other hand is looking to follow up his February win over Norman Parke with another win here. Khabilov has fought the tougher competition, but skill wise this is a very fascinating match up.
Stay tuned for more UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs Arlovski coverage as well as other MMA content.
