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
Fair play to Kieran Kingston he worked very hard for cork hurling and felt he could do no more i wish him the very best in the future.
@Kevin: The trouble with Cork is their inconsistency. Some cracking performances followed by a dismal performance on the next day out, like it’s a different team. Renowned for their fearless attitude towards other teams and their never say die attitude, but they often lack the ability, skill and cool-headedness to come back into a game once it gets away from them. For years Cork had a revolving door for players giving a year or two, instead of nurturing a team to bring them on – the team we see today is finally starting to get more consistent, intercounty experienced, and a glimmer of hope that there may be something on the cards for Cork in the next few years.
Liam Sheedy would be worth talking to possibly
@O’Rahilly David: He would but it will be Davy Fitz
@Gerry k: No chance
@Gerry k: Nooooo. I’m from Clare. Definitely not Davy
@Gerry k: dear God no
@Mary O’leary: Davy already a coach with Cork senior camogie – not a huge leap to go across
@O’Rahilly David: he has the job got
@Elaine Hayes: good girl Elaine. Silly comment
@Gerry k: Davy Fitz for Cork ?! Lol !!!
Best wishes for the future
Funny year, everyone expected cork/Waterford to meet Limerick in a all Ireland…both completely underperformed…then Clare blew everyone away but flopped yesterday…now it’s kk v Limerick .
Cork probably could do with a new voice plenty of skillful hurler’s..need to learn how to tackle and who knows
@Matthew Delaney: don’t think too many people outside of Cork expected them to be anywhere near an all ireland after last year’s final hiding
@Michael McGrath: wasn’t too many in Cork expecting it either Mick.
Davy would be colourful and the journey with him interesting …but he is not from Cork nor never played for Cork (e.g John Myler from Wexford but transferred to Cork). I reckon Cork County Board will try and recruit a cork man
Thank you Kieran. You tried your best and left a good group behind you. Mile Buiochas!
Davy Fitz next up!
@Tom Dineen: He’ll not be long emptying their coffers
News to be sure… but not big enough news to have a push notification for it
@David Duignan: any news related to Cork is push notification level importance Dave, everyone knows that!
Davy just wet himself
What’s Jurling ??
@qwerty: Junior hurling…..would be higher quality than what you saw today generally but the lads playing it wouldn’t be in the same condition!
Davy definitely
Cork never had a coach outside the county. Well the male’s that is