The UFC is returning to Newark, New Jersey, on January 30 for UFC on Fox 18, and the card will be headlined by a light heavyweight showdown between Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and Ryan Bader.
The UFC announced the main event on Wednesday night, along with several undercard bouts in Tarec Saffiedine vs. Jake Ellenberger, George Sullivan vs. Alexander Yakovlev, Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Joaquim Silva, and Felipe Olivieri vs. Tony Martin.
Bader had been cool on the idea of a fight with Johnson, hoping to get a fight with Daniel Cormier for the UFC Light Heavyweight Title, but with the reinstatement of Jon Jones, it was clear that wouldn’t be booked. Still, the five-round light heavyweight bout is likely to determine a No. 1 contender in the division, with Johnson hoping to get back in the mix after a bounce-back win over Jimi Manuwa.
It’s a quick return to the Prudential Center for a Fox card, as UFC on Fox 15 emanated from the venue in April of this year.
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