Next months UFC 225 card has undergone a slight change as a heavyweight bout between Alistair Overeem and Curtis Blaydes has been moved from the main card to the Fox Sports 1 portion of the preliminary card, while a women’s featherweight division bout between Holly Holm and Megan Anderson has been moved from the FS1 Prelims to the main card.
There has been no reason given for why the changes were made.
Holm (11-4-0) has won just one of her last five under the UFC banner, with that lone win coming over Bethe Correia at UFC Fight Night Singapore. Holm is a former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion, defeating Ronda Rousey at UFC 193 to claim the gold. Holm has challenged for the UFC Women’s Featherweight Title twice before, losing to Germaine De Randamie at UFC 208 and then to Cyborg at UFC 219.
Anderson (8-2-0) is going to be making her UFC debut in this fight and does so on the strength of a four fight winning streak. Anderson is the current Invicta FC Featherweight Champion, defeating Charmaine Tweet at Invicta FC 21 to win the strap. Anderson hasn’t fought in well over a year, as her last bout at Invicta Fighting Championships 21 came in January of 2017.
Overeem (43-16-0-1NC) has won two of his last three under the UFC banner, but is coming off of a knockout loss to Francis Ngannou late last year at UFC 218. Overeem has previously challenged for the UFC Heavyweight Title, losing to Stipe Miocic by knockout at UFC 203. Overeem has suffered a total of five losses in UFC competition and all of those defeats came by way of KO/TKO.
Blaydes (9-1-0-1NC) enters the contest on the strength of a three bout winning streak, last defeating Mark Hunt at UFC 221 this past February. Blaydes has only suffered a single defeat as a professional MMA fighter and that came to Francis Ngannou at UFC Fight Night 86. Blaydes also competed once in the Rich Dambakly MMA promotion, where he holds a victory over fellow UFC fighter Allen Crowder.
UFC 225 takes place on Saturday, June 9 from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois with Robert Whittaker and Yoel Romero headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
