The return of T.J. Dillashaw against Cory Sandhagen has a new date, Clay Guida is back in action, and more — here is your fight announcement roundup for Wednesday, May 19.
T.J. Dillashaw-Cory Sandhagen to main event UFC on ESPN+ 50
While the match had to be moved, T.J. Dillashaw is hoping to still come back with a bang. MMA Junkie has confirmed that the fight between him and Cory Sandhagen will take place on July 24 on ESPN+.
Dillashaw, the former UFC bantamweight champion, last fought at UFC 227 in 2019, losing to Henry Cejudo for the UFC flyweight title. He ended up vacating the bantamweight title after being suspended, testing positive for an EPO. A fight between the two was meant for May, but Dillashaw had to back out after getting a cut above his eye.
Sandhagen, ranked second in the UFC bantamweight rankings, is on a two-fight win streak. He last fought in February, beating Frankie Edgar via KO.
Clay Guida v. Mark O. Madsen set for August 21 UFC event
After an initial report by Via Ritzau, MMA DNA reported that Clay Guida will return to action against Mark O. Madsen. The fight would be on August 21, at a location to be determined.
Guida last fought in February, beating Michael Johnson via unanimous decision. That ended a two-fight losing streak. Madsen made his MMA debut in 2013. He was on an eight-fight win streak before making his UFC and lightweight debut in 2019. The 36-year-old is 2-0 in the octagon.
Cheyanne Buys to face Gloria de Paula on July 31
Two Dana White Contender Series alums will face off on July 31 for the UFC. MMA Fighting is reporting that Cheyanne Buys and Gloria de Paula will fight one another in a strawweight bout.
Buys made her MMA debut in 2018, fighting for Invicta, LFA, and EFC. She competed on Dana White's Contender Series in 2020, beating Hilarie Rose via unanimous decision. "The Warrior Princess" lost her UFC debut in March against Montserrat Ruiz. de Paula made her MMA debut in 2017. The Brazilian beat Pauline Macias on Dana White's Contender Series, but lost to Jinh Yu Frey in her UFC debut in March.
Brian Kelleher-Domingo Pilarte set for August 21 UFC event
Two fighters looking to get wins back will face off for some much-needed momentum. Fighter Path is reporting that Brian Kelleher will face off against Domingo Pilarte on August 21. There is no location set for this event.
Kelleher is 3-2 in his last five fights. His last fight was a unanimous decision loss to Ricky Simon at UFC 258 in February. Pilarte made his MMA debut in 2009. Competing on Dana White's Contender Series, Pilarte lost his UFC debut in 2019 against Felipe Dias Colares. His last bout was a no-contest against Journey Newson at UFC 247 in 2020.
Philip Rowe v. Orion Cosce set for July 31 UFC event
Another pair of alumni from Dana White’s Contender Series will face off this summer. MMA Fighting is reporting that Philip Rowe will face Orion Cosce on July 31. That event does not have a set location yet.
Rowe made his MMA debut in 2014, losing two in a row. He then won seven in a row, including a TKO win against Leon Shahbazyan on Dana White's Contender Series. Rowe lost to Gabriel Green in his UFC debut at UFC 258. Cosce made his MMA debut in 2018. He is undefeated, last fighting in 2020. The 26-year-old beat Matt Dixon in August during an episode of Dana White's Contender Series.
Ashley Yoder v. Jinh Yu Frey to take place on July 31 UFC event
July 31 is looking to be a stacked card. MMA Fighting reported that Ashley Yoder and Jinh Yu Frey will face off in a strawweight bout.
Yoder is 1-3 in her last four fights. Making her MMA debut in 2014, Yoder debuted for the UFC in 2016 and is 3-6 with the promotion. Her last fight was a loss to Angela Hill in March. Frey is a former Invicta FC atomweight champion, and has fought for the RIZIN super atomweight title. She made her UFC debut in 2020, losing to Kay Hansen. After another loss against Loma Lookboonmee, Frey beat Gloria de Paula in March.
Frey was supposed to face Istela Nunes, but the latter had to back out of the bout.
Molly McCann-Ji Yeon Kim in the works for August 14 UFC event
Flyweights will do battle as Molly McCann will face off against Ji Yeon Kim. John Hyon Ko first reported the news of the August 14 bout.
McCann is currently on a two-fight losing streak. She last fought in February, losing to Lara Procopio via unanimous decision. It was the fifth fight in a row for her that ended that way. Kim last fought in August, losing to Alexa Grasso via unanimous decision.
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