A vacant slot yet to be confirmed for the co-main event at UFC Dublin on 19 July? Now, what popular Irish UFC fighter could possibly fill that?
The UFC last night confirmed five fights for the event in Dublin on 19 July and it’s already shaping up to be a good-looking card with Iceland’s Gunnar Nelson set to take on Ryan LaFlare of the USA as both look to maintain their unbeaten record in the welterweight division.
From an Irish perspective, it’s great to see Neil Seery on the card following his appearance at Fight Night 37 in London last month, while the man who earned a narrow victory over ‘Two Tap’ on that occasion, Brad Pickett, will also be in action in the O2 in July.
Pickett had been due to fight Ian McCall before the latter’s withdrawal led to Seery being called in as a late replacement in London last month, but the Pickett/McCall fight will take place in Dublin this time around as well as bouts featuring Tom Lawlor, Ilir Latifi, Phil Harris (who will be in action against Seery), Cody Donovan and Nikita Krylov.
All of those fights were revealed on Beyond the Octagon last night and with Nelson v LaFlare assuming the status of co-main event, an announcement will soon be made about who will be sharing top billing with both of those fighters in a little over two months’ time.
Ever since it was confirmed last month by Garry Cook, the UFC head honcho in Europe, Middle East and Africa, that the UFC would be coming to Dublin in July, there were whisperings that Conor McGregor would be the headline act and the man himself did little to quell suspicions with a tweet posted a little after the other fights on the card were confirmed last night.
BREAKING NEWS: Only the King breaks the King’s news.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 29, 2014
McGregor, of course, hasn’t been back in the Octagon since suffering a severe knee injury in only his second UFC outing against Max Holloway last August, but his rehab has been progressing smoothly and he has been hinting at a return on home turf ever since he appeared on the Late Late Show late last year.
Whether it is McGregor – it almost certainly will be – that ends up headlining the card remains to be seen, but in any case it should be a cracking event.
UFC Fight Night Dublin
Gunnar Nelson v Ryan LaFlare
Brad Pickett v Ian McCall
Tom Lawlor vs. Ilir Latifi
Phil Harris vs. Neil Seery
Cody Donovan vs. Nikita Krylov
Tickets for UFC Fight Night Dublin, priced from €50, go on sale to UFC Fight Club members on June 4th. Those with a newsletter code may purchase tickets on June 5th, with tickets going on sale to the general public on June 6th. All tickets may be purchased through Ticketmaster.ie
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