A featherweight scrap between Ricardo Lamas and Mirsad Bektic is coming to Chicago.
A featherweight fight between top ranked contenders Ricardo Lamas and Mirsad Bektic is heading to the Windy City. Initially reported by Combate and later confirmed by UFC officials, Lamas and Bektic join the other 11 scheduled bouts set for UFC 225, which marks the the first pay-per-view event taking place within Chicago’s city limits.
Lamas (18-6), a former UFC title challenger, was last seen inside the Octagon opposite of Josh Emmett, who brutally knocked out “The Bully” in the very first round of their fight at UFC on Fox in December. Lamas was initially scheduled to rematch former champion Jose Aldo, but lost out on the chance when Aldo was pulled to face Max Holloway at UFC 218.
Prior to this this setback, Lamas won his last two fights by way of finish over Charles Oliveira and Jason Knight at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 Finale: dos Anjos vs. Ferguson and UFC 214 respectively.
This will be the first time in five years that Lamas will fight in front of a hometown crowd.
Bektic (12-1), on the other hand, is coming into the fight off a TKO win over Godofredo Pepey at UFC on FOX 27. Since going pro in 2011, Bektic maintained a perfect record before meeting Darren Elkins at UFC 209. After dominating the fight for two rounds, Bektic was finished by Elkins with a right hand and kick that saw him face down on the mat. This would mark the end of his undefeated record as it was Bektic’s first professional loss in mixed martial arts.
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UFC 225 goes down in Chicago, Illinois on June 9 at the United Center. In the main event, a rematch between middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and title challenger Yoel Romero will take place. In the co-main event, Rafael dos Anjos and Colby Covington will fight for the interim welterweight title to secure a title shot against current champ Tyron Woodley.