UFC Adelaide gets 3 new fights

Three fights are added to UFC Adelaide that will feature former champions and top contenders.

The UFC is entering a busy part of the year with 11 events scheduled between now and the end of 2018. One of those showcases, UFC Adelaide got three new fights announced on Tuesday; all featuring men within the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions. With former champions, contenders and rising prospects, these are the exact type of fights that have the potential to build the future of the division.

The biggest fight revealed includes a former champion and a surging prospect as Junior dos Santos is set to face off against Tai Tuivasa.

Dos Santos has continued to attempt to find a way back to the heavyweight title he lost to Cain Velasquez five years ago at UFC 166. Since that fateful day, he’s exchanged wins and losses; including splitting fights with former champion Stipe Miocic. He’s looking to build to his first two-fight win streak since 2012 as he last appeared at UFC Fight Night 133 where he defeated Blagoy Ivanov in the main event.

The undefeated Tuivasa is slowly becoming a fan favorite, not only for his abilities in the cage but for the likable personality that he showcases outside of it as well. The 25-year old first appeared in the Octagon in 2017 and has put together a three-fight win streak since. He last fought against a former champion in Andrei Arlovski at UFC 225.

The other heavyweight fight brings out Mark Hunt and Justin Willis.

Hunt, who is fighting out the last fight in his UFC contract, is looking to leave the promotion with a win. Hunt’s career has experienced both highs and lows, but he’s remained a fan favorite the entire time. He is 1-3 in his last four fights but remains capable of highlight-reel knockouts at a moment’s notice.

Willis comes into a 7-1 professional record, which includes a seven-fight win streak. He debuted for the UFC at UFC Fight Night 113 and has defeated three men in the Octagon since. Willis is not ranked in the Top 15 in the division, but a win over Hunt should allow him to break through to a ranked slot in the group.

Lastly, there is a new light heavyweight fight added to the card. The former champion, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua is fighting against Tyson Pedro in yet another fight that pits a young athlete against a veteran of the sport.

Pedro last appeared for the UFC at UFC Fight Night 132 where he was defeated by Ovince St. Preux via straight armbar. This was his second defeat in the Octagon as he’s gone 3-2 since joining the promotion in 2016. His resume includes wins over the likes of Khalil Roundtree and Paul Craig.

Rua doesn’t need much of an introduction. The Brazilian star is known for the violent action that preceded him when he joined the UFC 10 years ago. He would eventually become the light heavyweight champion by defeating Lyoto Machida at UFC 113 but was unable to successfully defend that title in his next fight against Jon Jones. More recently, Rua has gone through a revival of such, winning 3 of his last 4 fights. Still, he was soundly defeated by Anthony Smith when he appeared at UFC Fight Night 134 in a sight that was quite unsettling for many to see. At 36-years old, Rua brings a 25-11 professional record into this fight.

UFC Adelaide is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, from the Adelaide Entertainment Center from Adelaide, Australia.