The UFC is putting together quite the card for their event on July 25th, and the card will now feature the return of a famous Swede who is making the jump to heavyweight.
Alexander Gustafsson (@AlexTheMauler) out of retirement for @FabricioWerdum fight at heavyweight (via @MikeBohnMMA) https://t.co/9J8zQa4tMZ
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) June 5, 2020
It was announced today that former three-time light heavyweight title challenger, Alexander Gustafsson (18-6), would be coming out of retirement and moving up to heavyweight. Gustafsson is jumping right into the deep end taking on former heavyweight champion, Fabricio Werdum (23-9-1). The last time we saw “The Mauler” was back in Sweden at UFC Fight Night 153 where he was submitted by Anthony Smith. Gustafsson hung up his gloves after the fight, but has teased that he was interested in returning. Now, Gustafsson is making his return to a new weight class hoping for one more chance to climb the latter and challenge for UFC gold.
The former heavyweight champion, Werdum, came back after a two year layoff to lose a close split decision to Alexey Oleynik back at UFC 249 in early May. Werdum was not happy with the performance and he is looking to get right back in the saddle against Gustafsson. A win for either man will be a huge step in the right direction. Both men come into this fight on two fight losing streaks, but both of them come in with championship experience.
Big July Shaping Up
The UFC is putting together an insane card for July 25th. The card is being headlined by a likely title eliminator at middleweight featuring former champion, Robert Whittaker (20-5) and Darren Till (18-2). Till made his middleweight debut by defeated Kelvin Gastelum back at UFC 244. Whittaker looks to get back on the winning side of things after losing his title to champion, Israel Adesanya, at UFC 243.
Dana White also came out and said that the trilogy fight between Shogun Rua and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira will be on that card. The UFC is gearing up for a big-time month of July, and fight fans should be getting excited for it. There are some good cards coming this month, but next month the UFC is taking things up a notch. Expect more big fights be announced very soon.