T.J. Dillashaw will make his long-awaited UFC return against Cory Sandhagen, and Dillashaw's long-term rival Cody Garbrandt also has a fight booked — here is your fight announcement roundup.
T.J. Dillashaw makes return vs. Cory Sandhagen
T.J. Dillashaw finds himself in a likely number one contender's fight vs. Cory Sandhagen in a headlining slot at a UFC Fight Night on May 8. The fight was first reported by ESPN. The UFC bantamweight division appears to be a little tied-up as Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan run back their DQ finish from UFC 259.
Sandhagen (14-2) will welcome back Dillashaw (16-4) since failing to capture the UFC flyweight title from Henry Cejudo in Janaury 2019. Dillashaw was subsequently slapped with a two-year suspension from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency after testing positive for erythropoietin (EPO).
Cody Garbrandt vs. Rob Font to headline UFC Fight Night
Two weeks after Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw, the latter's rival Cody Garbrandt (no. 6) will make his own Octagon return vs. Rob Font (no. 10). The fight will serve as the UFC Fight Night main event on May 22. The news was first reported by ESPN.
Garbrandt (12-3) was previously expected to drop down to flyweight to challenge for that division's title; however, he suffered long-term complications from COVID-19 that shelved him. Font (18-4) is coming off consecutive wins over Marlon Moraes, Ricky Simon and Sergio Pettis.
Jorge Masvidal's protege makes Bellator return
Roman Faraldo (4-0 MMA) — a protege of UFC superstar Jorge Masvidal — will make his return to the Bellator cage at Bellator 255, per MMA Junkie.
Faraldo will take on Trevor "Scarecrow" Gudde (2-1), one of the tallest welterweights in mixed martial arts history. Gudde towers at 6-foot-7-inches. Both men are coming off debut wins at Bellator 252 in November.
Philipe Lins vs. Ben Rothwell rebooked
Philipe Lins and Ben Rothwell will have another chance to get it done.
Lins vs. Rothwell was pulled from UFC Vegas 21 just days from the fight due to an injury suffered by Rothwell. MMA Junkie now reports the heavyweight scrap has been rescheduled for the undercard of Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw.
Don'Tale Mayes vs. Tai Tuivasa in jeopardy
It appears Don'Tale Mayes and Tai Tuivasa won't slug it out after all.
Mayes (8-4) was not medically cleared and pulled from the Tuivasa fight at UFC Vegas 22 on Saturday, per MMA Junkie. The promotion has now matched-up Tuivasa (11-3) with short-notice replacement Harry Hunsucker (7-3).
Don’Tale Mayes out of this weekend’s #UFCVegas22 event. Promotion currently seeking replacement opponent for Tai Tuivasa.
— John Morgan (@MMAjunkieJohn) March 17, 2021
Tuivasa is coming off a first-round finish of Stefan Struve with one-second left in the round. The victory snapped a three-fight losing streak for the Australian. Hunsucker is a Contender Series alum with four wins by submission and three by strikes.
Spike Carlyle to headline LFA card
UFC veteran Spike Carlyle has landed in LFA.
The "Alpha Ginger" (9-3) makes his return to the promotion vs. Batsumberel Dagvadorj (7-1). Carlyle parted ways with the UFC following a 1-2 run punctuated by consecutive unanimous decision losses to Bill Algeo and Billy Quarantillo.
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