This isn’t just event of the year material, this could potentially be the event of the decade
You thought UFC 189 was stacked? Well the big wigs announced the main card for UFC 187 on Memorial day weekend and it completely blows Conor McGregor’s title fight card out of the water.
#UFC187 Memorial Day Weekend in Vegas@Jonnybones vs @Anthony_Rumble! #BOOM! pic.twitter.com/pQhIV2H83g
— UFC (@ufc) February 19, 2015
The first of two, count ’em, TWO title fights on the card will be for the light heavyweight strap. Anthony “Rumble” Johnson will take on arguably the greatest fighter ever to step foot inside an Octagon, Jon Jones for that coveted belt. Johnson (19-4) is undefeated since moving up to the 205 lb division and is fresh off his devastating first round KO win over the man who gave Jones his toughest ever test, Alexander Gustafsson.
Jones (21-1) enters into this bout fresh off a ludicrously short stay in rehab which came after his dominant decision victory over elite wrestler Daniel Cormier at UFC 182.
Also adding @ChrisWeidman vs @vitorbelfort to #UFC187! pic.twitter.com/MJLlivSFgb
— UFC (@ufc) February 19, 2015
The co-main event will see the middleweight belt go on the line as knockout artist Vitor Belfort will be looking to overthrow Chris Weidman aka the man who usurped Anderson Silva from his UFC throne.
Weidman (12-0) comes into this one off the back of an emphatic decision victory over MMA legend Lyoto Machida at UFC 175. Meanwhile, Belfort (24-10) will be confident after his three successive highlight reel knockouts against Dan Henderson, Luke Rockhold and Michael Bisping in his last three respective bouts.
Fans asked for it! @TeamKhabib vs @CowboyCerrone at #UFC187 | May 23rd at @MGMGrand! This card is STACKED! pic.twitter.com/R9IF7hIlKy
— UFC (@ufc) February 19, 2015
The worst kept secret in the UFC, besides the whole PED debacle, was Donald Cerrone being matched up against top ranked contender Khabib Nurmagomedov. The lightweight bout has found a home on the 187 main card and the winner will almost certainly be granted a shot at the winner of Pettis vs dos Anjos.
Cerrone (27-6-1) is riding an incredible seven-win hot streak and despite claiming a dodgy decision against Benson Henderson in his last trip to the Octagon, Cowboy seems to have forgotten how to lose a contest.
Undefeated Sambo specialist Khabib (22-0) enters into this one off the back of a unanimous decision over the next lightweight title challenger, Rafael dos Anjos.
Oh.. we have more… #UFC187: @travisbrowneMMA vs @AndreiArlovski pic.twitter.com/NcRmSVczw1
— UFC (@ufc) February 19, 2015
An exciting heavyweight clash between Hawaiian knockout artist Travis Browne and former champion Andrei Arlovski also features on the card.
Browne (17-2-1) knocked out concussion enthusiast Brendan Schaub in his last bout while Arlovski (23-10-1) is fresh off putting Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva to sleep in the main event at Fight Night 51.
aaaannnnddddddd @JoeJitsu vs @chicanojohn added to #UFC187 #OMGThisCardIsAmazing pic.twitter.com/LyEiG12QtP
— UFC (@ufc) February 19, 2015
Rounding off the stellar lineup is a barn burner in the midget flyweight division. Perpetual title contender Joseph Benavidez (21-4) will slug it out with submission specialist John Moraga (21-4). The Brazilian saw off Dustin Ortiz in his last fight, swaying a unanimous decision over the top-ranked 125 lb-er. Moraga defeated William Gates with a slick 11th hour rear-naked choke in his last outing.
