Francisco Rivera to face Takeya Mizugaki at UFC 173
By Josh Sanchez
Feb 2, 2013; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Francisco Rivera during UFC 156 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
At UFC 173 on Memorial Day Weekend in Las Vegas, a key bantamweight fight will take place as two of the top ten fighters in the division. The UFC announced on Friday that Francisco Rivera and Takeya Mizugaki will square off inside of the octagon.
Mizugaki was initially expected to face T.J. Dillashaw at the event, but Dillashaw was promoted to the main event where he will face off against Renan Barao for the UFC title. Rivera was quick to step in on short notice.
The bout will be part of the pay-per-view main card.
Rivera (10-2) is currently riding a six-fight unbeaten streak, while Mizugaki (19-7-2) has won four straight of his own.
With the recent changes to the event, here is a look at the current fight card:
MAIN CARD
- Champ Renan Barao vs. T.J. Dillashaw – for UFC bantamweight title
- Junior dos Santos vs. Stipe Miocic
- Takeya Mizugaki vs. Francisco Rivera
- Tony Ferguson vs. Katsunori Kikuno
- James Krause vs. Jamie Varner
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Michael Chiesa vs. Francisco Trinaldo
- Chris Holdsworth vs. Kyung Ho Kang
- Mitch Clarke vs. Al Iaquinta
- Anthony Njokuani vs. Vinc Pichel
- Yves Edwards vs. Piotr Hallmann
- Doo Ho Choi vs. Sam Sicilia
- Jingliang Li vs. Danny Mitchell