As intriguing narratives go, this definitely makes UFC 202 all the more interesting.
Ahead of the UFC 196 main event between Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor, Diaz said “my whole team would fucking beat your whole team’s ass.”
Now we’ll get to see how true that declaration is as training partners of both fighters, scheduled to rematch one another in the main event of UFC 202 next month, are set to square off on the undercard of the August 20 event.
Artem Lobov vs. Chris Avila has been discussed for some time now but it was finally confirmed by the UFC on Saturday.
Recently, during a special episode of the MMA Hour with Nate Diaz, the Stockton fighter revealed: “He (Dana White) was like ‘let’s bring your boy Chris (Avila)’. If he wants to fight, we can put him up against Artem (Lobov). They’re talking about bringing Chris with me.”
Conor McGregor's teammate @RusHammerMMA will compete on the same #UFC202 card! He'll face Chris Avila. pic.twitter.com/UmsOcl7H5b
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) July 2, 2016
The next day we spoke to Lobov, one of the main sparring partners of ‘The Notorious’, and he explained that a fight against Avila is one that interested him.
“After all that Diaz was saying about how his training partners are better than Conor’s, this is the chance to put it to the test,” Lobov said.
“This would be the opportunity to compare team vs. team and I don’t know much about Chris Avila but I’m definitely open to fighting him.”
Lobov has yet to taste victory in the UFC, falling short in the Ultimate Fighter finale against Ryan Hall before also dropping a unanimous decision to Alex White in February.
But ‘The Russian Hammer’ wants to prove he belongs on the biggest stage of mixed martial arts and can do so with a victory over the 5-2 Avila.
Lobov enjoys a significant experience advantage over Avila, with 25 professional fights under the SBG featherweight’s belt.
It’s not like UFC 202 will be short of interested viewers with stellar bouts like Maia vs. Condit, Johnson vs. Teixeira and Cerrone vs. Story already announced but this featherweight tilt is the perfect appetite whetter for the grudge match headliner.
