THE LINE-UP FOR the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s sold-out return to Dublin next month is now set.
A featherweight contest between Darren Elkins and Robert Whiteford today became the 12th and final bout to be booked for the event, which will take place at the 3Arena on Saturday, 24 October.
UFC Fight Night 76, the organisation’s third event in Dublin, will be headlined by the lightweight meeting of Dustin Poirier and Donegal native Joseph Duffy.
American heavyweight contenders Stipe Miocic and Ben Rothwell will clash in the co-main event, while five other Irish fighters — Paddy Holohan, Norman Parke, Neil Seery, Aisling Daly and Cathal Pendred — will also feature.
Whiteford (12-2), who hails from Scotland, will be aiming for his third consecutive UFC victory when he takes on Elkins. The 32-year-old Scot followed up a win over Daniel Pineda last year with a first-round KO of Ireland’s Paul Redmond at UFC Glasgow this past July.
Elkins (18-5) is currently ranked 14th in the UFC’s 145lbs division and has tasted victory in the octagon on eight occasions since joining the UFC in 2010. He holds notable wins against Diego Brandao and former Bellator champion Pat Curran.
A 31-year-old American, Elkins has been stopped just twice in his 12 UFC outings — by former featherweight title challenger Chad Mendes and seventh-ranked contender Charles Oliveira.
Here’s the finalised line-up, with the order set according to UFC.com:
Dustin Poirier vs. Joseph Duffy
Stipe Miocic vs. Ben Rothwell
Nicolas Dalby vs. Darren Till
Paddy Holohan vs. Louis Smolka
Norman Parke vs. Reza Madadi
Stevie Ray vs. Mickael Lebout
Neil Seery vs. Jon Delos Reyes
Scott Askham vs. Krzysztof Jotko
Aisling Daly vs. Ericka Almeida
Cathal Pendred vs. Tom Breese
Darren Elkins vs. Robert Whiteford
Bubba Bush vs. Garreth McLellan
Just looking at it for a minute as I flicked around the channel and it seems a shame to have so many empty seats for an all Ireland final. I sure the football final in two weeks time would be something similar. Would it not be an idea to play both the football and the camogie final on the one day. It still wouldn’t fill the stadium and it would save the cost of opening the stadium for a second day.
@mickmc: or Gaa fans could support their county teams.
Very good idea Mickmc … then you wouldn’t have to post you sarcasm again next Sunday.
@Adrian Costigan: Well the economic reality is they don’t support this particular code in any great number. Ideally the game should be played in a smaller stadium but of course that would be regarded as sexist blah blah blah. Holding the two games the one day like in the quarter finals of the men’s competition would make much more economic sense.
@Rory Murphy: Can’t see there too many empty next sunday
Sincerest apologies… read your initial comment wrong… thought you were on about next week! … how daft do I feel now.
Go on the Rebelettes!!! Rena Buckley, what more can you say 18 AI medals. A warrior
HT Cork the better team so far but havent managed to put it on the scoreboard.First ten in the second half will tell alot.
Doesn’t make sense having it on in Croke Park. A bit embarrassing really – an all Ireland final and only 10 or 12 thousand in attendance. Varadkar doesn’t look too happy being there.
Cork the far better team but Kilkenny are clinging onto them.
@John Ryan:In fairness Varadkar did not look any happier last sunday when those strapping lads from Galway went up the steps to him.:-):-)
Rena Buckley is a phenomenon, what a sportsperson.
Eimear O’Sullivan for Player of the Match, she was outstanding!!