UFC Books Several Big Spring Fights: Karate Hottie, Cub Swanson, Namajunas, Will Brooks, More
The UFC have helped fill in their spring schedule with several big fight announcements.
Former Bellator Lightweight Champion #15 Will Brooks faces #7 Featherweight Charles Oliveira (21-7) at UFC 210 in Buffalo. Brooks will return to the cage for the first time since his controversial loss to Alex Oliveira, who missed weight monumentally, in October at UFC Fight Night Portland. Charles Oliveira will be moving up from featherweight to lightweight, where he's had repeated issues making weight in the past as well.
"The Karate Hottie" Michelle Waterson (#7, 14-4) is getting back on the horse quickly, as she'll take on former UFC title challenger Rose Namajunas (#5, 6-3) at UFC on FOX on April 15 from Kansas City, Missouri. Waterson is fresh off of a big win over Paige VanZant in December, and was promptly called out by Namajunas. The two will headline the card.
Another former title challenger is in action as #11 Tim Elliot (14-7-1) will face #13 Louis Smolka (11-3) is also added to the Kansas City show. Also announced were Devin Clark vs. Jake Collier and TUF winner Andrew Sanchez vs. Anthony Smith
In a puzzling booking decision #4 featherweight Cub Swanson (24-7) will face Artem Lobov (13-12-1, 1 NC) at UFC Fight Night in Nashville, Tennessee on April, 22. Lobov's claim to fame is being a training partner of UFC Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor, but doesn't even crack the top 50 Featherweights in the world.
Nashville also saw additions in the form of #14 Al Iaquinta taking on Diego Sanchez, #10 Brandon Moreno vs. #8 Dustin Ortiz, Matt Schnell vs. Hector Sandoval, Scott Holtzman vs. Mike McBride, Sam Alvey vs. former middleweight contender Thales Leites, and former UFC Strawweight title contender #13 Jessica Penne vs. Danielle Taylor.
