When it rains, it totally pours. Four giant fights are slated for UFC 218, including Alistair Overeem and Francis Ngannou being official. Now, we have our first three fights announced for the UFC’s year-end card on December 3oth. Former UFC champions, Carla Esparza and Dominick Cruz will return to action in high-profile fights for their divisions.
HOLD UP!
Former champ @DominickCruz returns to face @JimmieRivera135 at #UFC219 @TMobileArena in Vegas | @Cyn_Calvillo faces @CarlaEsparza1 pic.twitter.com/kG4Cy4wxoc
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2017
I'll take "Great Fights for $500 please" pic.twitter.com/qPxtuu0M1c
— Dave Sholler (@DaveSholler) September 27, 2017
Louis Smolka (@LASTSAMURAIUFC) vs. Matheus Nicolau (@NicolauMatheus) added to #UFC219 in Vegas (December 30th) #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/mG58PmZKCq
— Farah Hannoun (@Farah_Hannoun) September 27, 2017
The news comes on the three year anniversary of Dominick Cruz returning from being injured and mowing through Takeya Mizugaki. He’ll return against Jimmie Rivera, who is on an obscene 20-fight win streak, for what will undoubetdly be a fight to see who challenges the winner of TJ Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt’s fight for the bantamweight title. Carla Esparza continues on her journey back to the UFC strawweight title as well, against undefeated Cynthia Calvillo. The young prospect is currently on a six-fight win streak, half being wins in the UFC. Also on the UFC 219 card, is Louis Smolka fighting Matheus Nicolau.
Sep27.2014
After being sidelined by injuries for three years,
Dominick Cruz returns to action & destroys Takeya Mizugaki pic.twitter.com/uToeo2LLE3
— MMA History Today (@MMAHistoryToday) September 27, 2017
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 9/27/2017.