UFC 170 Gets Rory MacDonald-Demian Maia, Rafael dos Anjos-Rustam Khabilov
Demian Maia will be back in the Octagon in February. | Marcelo
Alonso/Sherdog.com
Two new bouts have been added to the rapidly expanding UFC 170 dance card, as UFC officials Friday announced that Rory MacDonald will face Demian Maia while Rafael dos Anjos will meet Rustam Khabilov.
UFC 170 takes place Feb. 22 at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and will see ex-champion Rashad Evans welcome former Strikeforce ace Daniel Cormier to the light heavyweight division in the evening’s main event.
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Maia, 36, suffered his first defeat at 170 pounds in his last Octagon appearance, dropping a split decision to Jake Shields this past October. A former middleweight, the onetime ADCC champion began his welterweight run with a trio of dominant wins, besting Dong Hyun Kim, Rick Story and ex-title contender Jon Fitch.
Dos Anjos rides a five-fight winning streak into his showdown with Khabilov and has not lost in more than two years. The Brazilian kicked off 2013 with a hard-fought decision victory over Evan Dunham and then turned the same trick against Donald Cerrone, edging “Cowboy” in a unanimous verdict this past August at UFC Fight Night 27.
Khabilov has not lost since February 2011 and sports six consecutive victories to his credit, three of which came inside the Octagon. “Tiger” made an impressive UFC debut one year ago, suplexing Vinc Pichel violently en route to a TKO finish. The Dagestani then posted two wins to go unbeaten in 2013, stopping Yancy Medeiros this past April before outpointing Jorge Masvidal last month at UFC Fight Night 31.
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