UFC 240 has two new fights and Erik Koch has a brand new weight-class.
Koch (15-6) is headed up to Welterweight, making his 170 pound debut against Kyle Stewart on July 27th. 'New Breed' enters the bout riding a two fight losing streak and has generally struggled as of late, winning just two of his last seven. Once a top contender, Koch was set to challenge Jose Aldo for his Featherweight title on two occasions, with injuries preventing both. Since then, inactivity has been a consistent issue for Koch, last fighting twice in a year back in 2014. Most recently, Koch dropped decisions to Clay Guida and Bobby Green respectively. He hasn't fought since January 2018.
Stewart (11-2) is relatively new to the octagon, appearing just once in a submission defeat against Chance Rencountre. However, he did previously appear on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series and scored a victory opposite Jason Jackson. With that being said, a win here feels pivotal for Stewart's UFC future.
Elsewhere, Lauren Murphy (10-4) will take on Mara Romero Borella in a clash of ranked Women's Flyweights. Currently 8th in the UFC's 125 pound standings, Murphy is 1-1 since shifting division. She last fought on June 1st, dropping a unanimous decision against Sijara Eubanks. On the other hand, Borella (12-5) enters with a victory, defeating Taila Santos via split decision. Overall, she's 2-1 since entering the octagon and is currently ranked 12th.
UFC 240 takes place at the Rogers Place on July 27th and will air on ESPN+ PPV. The event is headline by Max Holloway's Featherweight Title defense against Frankie Edgar.
