With UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping on the sidelines due to injury, an interim title fight between Yoel Romero and Robert Whittaker has been booked for the co-main event of UFC 213 on July 8th in Las Vegas. UFC officials confirmed the matchup on Tuesday.
Romero (13-1) hasn’t fought since a November 2016 TKO victory over Chris Weidman at UFC 205 in New York. The 40-year-old hasn’t lost since a September 2011 setback in Strikeforce and heads into this matchup on a nine-fight win streak.
Whittaker (18-4) has remained undefeated since moving up to middleweight in late 2014. The TUF Smashes winner is coming off a second-round TKO victory over Jacare Souza at UFC on FOX 24 back in April.
Here’s an updated look at the card…
Amanda Nunes (c) vs. Valentina Shevchenko – for women’s bantamweight title
Yoel Romero vs. Robert Whittaker – for interim middleweight title
Donald Cerrone vs. Robbie Lawler
Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum
Jim Miller vs. Anthony Pettis
Curtis Blaydes vs. Daniel Omielanczuk
Gerald Meerschaert vs. Thiago “Marreta” Santos
Keri-Anne Melendez vs. Sadee Monseratte Williams set for Bellator 180
The San Jose Mercury News reported on Tuesday that Keri Anne-Melendez will face Sadee Monserrate Williams as part of the Bellator 180 undercard on June 24th. Melendez (1-0) is the wife of UFC lightweight Gilbert Melendez and is coming off a 47-second knockout victory over Sheila Padilla at Bellator 165 this past November in her pro debut.
Williams (0-1) dropped her professional debut against Jenna Serio in April 2016, losing by second-round submission at Ring of Combat 55. The 29-year-old New Jersey native will be making her Bellator debut. Bellator also announced another undercard bout on Tuesday, as Bradley Desir (9-5) will meet Nate Grebb (3-1) in a lightweight contest.
Here’s an updated look at the card…
Bellator NYC (Pay-Per-View)
Chael Sonnen (29-14-1) vs. Wanderlei Silva (35-12-1)
Fedor Emelianenko (36-4) vs. Matt Mitrione (11-5)
(c) Douglas Lima (28-6) vs. Lorenz Larkin (18-5) – Welterweight Title Fight
(c) Michael Chandler (16-3) vs. Brent Primus (7-0) – Lightweight Title Fight
Aaron Pico (0-0) vs. Zach Freeman (8-2)
Bellator 180 (Spike TV)
(c) Phil Davis (17-3) vs. Ryan Bader (22-5) – Light Heavyweight Title Fight
Neiman Gracie (5-0) vs. Dave Marfone (5-2)
James Gallagher (6-0) vs. Chinzo Machida (5-2)
Ryan Couture (10-5) vs. Haim Gozali (7-3)
Anthony Giacchina (1-1) vs. Jerome Mickle (2-1)
Hugh McKenna (0-1) vs. John Salgado (4-7-1)
Matt Rizzo (9-2) vs. Sergio da Silva (6-8)
Keri Anne-Melendez (1-0) vs. Sadee Monserrate Williams (0-1)
