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8/5/16: Top Five Stories of the Week
In our regular Friday feature, we list out the most newsworthy stories/articles from the past week in MMA.
5. UFC Fight Night 96 in Portland takes shape: The first slate of fights for the UFC’s return event to Portland were booked this week, and though no main event is yet set there are a number of intriguing fights coming to the Oct. 1 card. That includes a very good flyweight fight between Louis Smolka and Sergio Pettis and the second UFC bout for former Bellator Champ Will Brooks as he takes on Alex Oliveira. Featherweights Hacran Dias and Brian Ortega face off on the card.
4. Cris “Cyborg” returns to UFC in Fight Night main event in Brasilia: The UFC’s been busy booking fights this week, and their return to Brasilia got its headliner and several more bouts this week. Cris “Cyborg” Justino will make her second catchweight appearance in the Octagon in that main event slot, welcoming newcomer Lina Lansberg to the UFC in the process. Former Bantamweight Champ Renan Barao is back in action at featherweight against Philippe Nover, and heavyweights Roy Nelson and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva will meet on the card as well.
3. Michael Bisping-Dan Henderson confirmed for UFC 204, other fights booked: On October 8, Michael Bisping brings the UFC Middleweight Title home to Manchester, and he’ll have his chance for vengeance against the man who knocked him stone cold out at UFC 100 seven years ago, Dan Henderson. That fight is now set, with Gegard Mousasi vs. Vitor Belfort, Stefan Struve vs. Ruslan Magomedov, and Jimi Manuwa vs. Ovince Saint Preux all booked in support.
2. GSP willing to face new champ Tyron Woodley in return fight: Georges St-Pierre’s comeback talks had quieted down for a bit in July, but he’s right back at the forefront in the UFC Welterweight Title conversation. After the title changed hands on Saturday night at UFC 201, St-Pierre’s name was thrown out as a potential fight, and the returning champion says he’s game for that title fight, likely in New York City this November.
1. Tyron Woodley knocks out Robbie Lawler to capture UFC Welterweight Championship: Speaking of that title changing hands, Tyron Woodley is now the UFC Welterweight Champion. The 34-year-old veteran knocked Robbie Lawler out in Atlanta in the first round, cracking him with a huge overhand right and finishing it off quickly on the ground. It was a stunning title change, the seventh already in the UFC in 2016.
[Photo (c) Butch Dill via USA Today Sports]
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