UFC on Fox next month just got a giant shot in the arm.
Demetrious Johnson (25-2) looks to make MMA history, as he vies for his UFC-record tying 10th Flyweight title defense against #4 Wilson Reis (22-6). The two were actually slated to fight at UFC 201 in July 2016, but Johnson was sidelined with an injury, and had already been planned for a December fight against the then-impending TUF 25 Champion.
Johnson had virtually cleaned out the flyweight division, sending John Dodson packing back to the 135-pound ranks, and stopping Henry Cejudo, Joseph Benavidez, Kyoji Horiguchi. He also defeated the likes of Tim Elliott, Chris Cariaso, Ian McCall and others. During Johnson's less active 10 months, Reis, Sergio Pettis, Jussier Formiga, Ray Borg, Brandon Moreno and others have emerged as potential challengers.
Anderson Silva currently holds the title defense record at ten between 2007 and 2012. Georges St-Pierre reached nine before vacating the championship and going on hiatus in 2013. Jon Jones had successful defenses before being stripped of the UFC Light Heavyweight title in 2015.
In a big fight in the 185 pound division, #3 Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza (24-4,1 NC) meets #6 Robert Whittaker on the show. Jacare is considered in the title hunt, but with Yoel Romero in line and Georges St-Pierre challenging for the Middleweight championship later this year, will take on the surging Whittaker. The 26-year old Whittaker holds wins over Derek Brunson, Rafael Natal and Uriah Hall.
UFC on Fox takes place April 15, 2017 from the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Fightful.com will have full, live coverage and discussion of the show.
