It is a case of "coronavirus be damned" at UFC HQ as Dana White has revealed further details of the fight cards for May 13 and 16 cards which will complete a run of three UFC events in just eight days.
The interim lightweight title fight between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje at UFC 249 may well be the most anticipated fight of the UFC's return to action following the COVID-19 pandemic, but UFC chief White has revealed a further array of fights to take place within days of their comeback show.
Also on rt.com 'It's not a social media stunt': UFC knockout Paige VanZant opens up on sizzling nude Instagram snaps (PHOTOS)Speaking with ESPN late on Friday, White announced the details of two UFC Fight Night cards to take place on May 13 and 16, with the first to be headlined by a light heavyweight tussle between former title contenders Anthony Smith and Glover Teixeira. Also on the card, Ovince St. Preux will make his heavyweight debut against Ben Rothwell in the co-headliner.
On May 16, Walt Harris will compete for the first time since the tragic murder of his stepdaughter last year when he takes on veteran striker Alistair Overeem in the main event. Claudia Gadelha takes on Angela Hill in the co-main.
Both of these events will take place in the same location in Jacksonville, Florida which will host next weekend's UFC 249. White also said that there will also be a card held on May 23, but there is no information as of yet as to the location of the event.
White iterated that Tyron Woodley will likely fight in the main event of this show, with the former champion telling ESPN's Ariel Helwani that Brazilian submission specialist Gilbert Burns will likely be standing opposite him in the cage.
The full bout orders of the two newly-announced cards are:
May 13
- Anthony Smith vs. Glover Teixeira
- Ovince Saint Preux vs. Ben Rothwell
- Alexander Hernandez vs. Drew Dober
- Ricky Simon vs. Ray Borg
- Karl Roberson vs. Marvin Vettori
- Andrei Arlovski vs. Philipe Lins
- Michael Johnson vs. Thiago Moises
- Sijara Eubanks vs. Sarah Moras
- Hunter Azure vs. Brian Kelleher
May 16
- Alistair Overeem vs. Walt Harris
- Claudia Gadelha vs. Angela Hill
- Dan Ige vs. Edson Barboza
- Eryk Anders vs. Krzysztof Jotko
- Song Yadong vs. Marlon Vera
- Anthony Hernandez vs. Kevin Holland
- Mike Davis vs. Giga Chikadze
- Cortney Casey vs. Mara Romero Borella
- Darren Elkins vs. Nate Landwehr
- Rodrigo Nascimento vs. Don’Tale Mayes