Ronda Rousey returns tonight at UFC 207. AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
EVEN IN SPITE of the cancellation of one of its most high-profile fights, the bill for the UFC’s final event of 2016 is one of the strongest the organisation has put together all year.
The removal of the rematch of former heavyweight champions Fabricio Werdum and Cain Velasquez due to an injury to the latter means that tonight’s card will feature just 10 bouts, but what UFC 207 lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality.
Due to her refusal to engage with the media, Ronda Rousey’s long-awaited return hasn’t garnered as much attention as may have been expected. Nevertheless, Rousey’s comeback from a 13-month lay-off remains the main talking point ahead of the 41st UFC event of the year, which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Holly Holm’s second-round knockout victory in November 2015 relieved Rousey of her undefeated record and status as the UFC women’s bantamweight champion. Amanda Nunes has since risen to the top of the division and her first defence of the title will be against the woman who seemed invincible before she crossed paths with home.
Nunes looked devastating as she disposed of Miesha Tate in just over three minutes last July. With power in her hands and a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, she may be the most well-rounded opponent that Rousey has faced. But should Rousey abandon her novice striking game and return to her judo fundamentals, the belt could be back in familiar hands.
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The men’s bantamweight title is also on the line and it’s quite possibly the most intriguing match-up on the card. Prior to this year, injuries had restricted Dominick Cruz to just one fight in 50 months. Therefore, it’ll be quite a treat to see the bantamweight champion competing for the third time in 2016 tonight.
UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz speaking to the media in Las Vegas on Wednesday. John Locher
John Locher
Cruz, who’s third in the pound-for-pound rankings behind Demetrious Johnson and Conor McGregor, will look to take another Team Alpha Male scalp when he faces Cody Garbrandt. The undefeated Garbrandt has the opportunity to become a UFC champion within just two years of debuting for the organisation, but succeeding against Cruz where Urijah Faber, Joseph Benavidez and TJ Dillashaw have all failed may prove to be a step too far.
The next bantamweight title challenger is likely to come from tonight’s preceding bout, in which TJ Dillashaw will aim for his second win on the trot since relinquishing the belt to Cruz back in January. Dillashaw will take on former flyweight contender John Lineker in a contest which has the makings of a classic.
Elsewhere, ranked welterweights Tarec Saffiedine and Dong Hyun Kim will collide after the main card begins on BT Sport 2 at 3am with a flyweight bout between Ray Borg and Louis Smolka, who’ll be keen to reassert himself as a legitimate contender in the 125lbs division after an unexpected setback at the hands of debutant Brandon Moreno in October.
A potentially exciting welterweight bout between Alex ‘Cowboy’ Oliveira and Tim Means will kick the action off on UFC Fight Pass at 12.30am, with the TV prelims featuring four interesting match-ups including the meeting of Neil Magny and former 170lbs title-holder Johny Hendricks, who missed weight yet again yesterday.
Ronda Rousey’s media blackout may have resulted in a muted build-up to tonight’s event, but the card itself is sure to deliver entertainment.
UFC women's bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes. AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
UFC 207
Main card (BT Sport 2, 3am)
Amanda Nunes vs. Ronda Rousey
Dominick Cruz vs. Cody Garbrandt
TJ Dillashaw vs. John Lineker
Dong Hyun Kim vs. Tarec Saffiedine
Louis Smolka vs. Ray Borg
TV prelims (BT Sport 2, 1am)
Johny Hendricks vs. Neil Magny
Mike Pyle vs. Alex Garcia
Antonio Carlos Junior vs. Marvin Vettori
Brandon Thatch vs. Niko Price
There's much more to tonight's UFC 207 card than Ronda Rousey's return
EVEN IN SPITE of the cancellation of one of its most high-profile fights, the bill for the UFC’s final event of 2016 is one of the strongest the organisation has put together all year.
The removal of the rematch of former heavyweight champions Fabricio Werdum and Cain Velasquez due to an injury to the latter means that tonight’s card will feature just 10 bouts, but what UFC 207 lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality.
Due to her refusal to engage with the media, Ronda Rousey’s long-awaited return hasn’t garnered as much attention as may have been expected. Nevertheless, Rousey’s comeback from a 13-month lay-off remains the main talking point ahead of the 41st UFC event of the year, which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Holly Holm’s second-round knockout victory in November 2015 relieved Rousey of her undefeated record and status as the UFC women’s bantamweight champion. Amanda Nunes has since risen to the top of the division and her first defence of the title will be against the woman who seemed invincible before she crossed paths with home.
Nunes looked devastating as she disposed of Miesha Tate in just over three minutes last July. With power in her hands and a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, she may be the most well-rounded opponent that Rousey has faced. But should Rousey abandon her novice striking game and return to her judo fundamentals, the belt could be back in familiar hands.
The men’s bantamweight title is also on the line and it’s quite possibly the most intriguing match-up on the card. Prior to this year, injuries had restricted Dominick Cruz to just one fight in 50 months. Therefore, it’ll be quite a treat to see the bantamweight champion competing for the third time in 2016 tonight.
Cruz, who’s third in the pound-for-pound rankings behind Demetrious Johnson and Conor McGregor, will look to take another Team Alpha Male scalp when he faces Cody Garbrandt. The undefeated Garbrandt has the opportunity to become a UFC champion within just two years of debuting for the organisation, but succeeding against Cruz where Urijah Faber, Joseph Benavidez and TJ Dillashaw have all failed may prove to be a step too far.
The next bantamweight title challenger is likely to come from tonight’s preceding bout, in which TJ Dillashaw will aim for his second win on the trot since relinquishing the belt to Cruz back in January. Dillashaw will take on former flyweight contender John Lineker in a contest which has the makings of a classic.
Elsewhere, ranked welterweights Tarec Saffiedine and Dong Hyun Kim will collide after the main card begins on BT Sport 2 at 3am with a flyweight bout between Ray Borg and Louis Smolka, who’ll be keen to reassert himself as a legitimate contender in the 125lbs division after an unexpected setback at the hands of debutant Brandon Moreno in October.
A potentially exciting welterweight bout between Alex ‘Cowboy’ Oliveira and Tim Means will kick the action off on UFC Fight Pass at 12.30am, with the TV prelims featuring four interesting match-ups including the meeting of Neil Magny and former 170lbs title-holder Johny Hendricks, who missed weight yet again yesterday.
Ronda Rousey’s media blackout may have resulted in a muted build-up to tonight’s event, but the card itself is sure to deliver entertainment.
UFC 207
Main card (BT Sport 2, 3am)
Amanda Nunes vs. Ronda Rousey
Dominick Cruz vs. Cody Garbrandt
TJ Dillashaw vs. John Lineker
Dong Hyun Kim vs. Tarec Saffiedine
Louis Smolka vs. Ray Borg
TV prelims (BT Sport 2, 1am)
Johny Hendricks vs. Neil Magny
Mike Pyle vs. Alex Garcia
Antonio Carlos Junior vs. Marvin Vettori
Brandon Thatch vs. Niko Price
Fight Pass prelims (UFCFightPass.com, 12.30am)
Alex Oliveira vs. Tim Means
‘Conor McGregor is not in my plans for the next 10 months’
Dana White defends Ronda Rousey’s refusal to speak to the media
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