UFC 170 Fight Card Grows with Addition of Assuncao vs. Rivera and Thompson vs. Whittaker
UFC officials on Wednesday announced two new bouts for UFC 170, which is slated for Feb. 22 in Las Vegas.
UFC 170 features a five-round, non-title fight main event with former champion Rashad Evans welcoming Daniel Cormier to the light heavyweight division.
The new additions announced on Wednesday include a bantamweight battle between Raphael Assuncao and Francisco Rivera, as well as a welterweight fight pitting Stephen Thompson against Robert Whittaker.
Assuncao (21-4) had been on his last UFC legs at featherweight, losing three of his last four fights at 145 pounds before moving down to bantamweight. He is undefeated since making the drop to 135 pounds, winning five consecutive fights and forcing his way into the Top 5.
Rivera (10-2, 1 NC) hasn't lost a fight in his last six trips to the Octagon, although one of those fights ended in a no contest. Rivera had initially scored a knockout victory over Roland Delorme, but tested positive for a banned substance, thus the fight’s result was changed to a no contest. He has since won back-to-back fights over Edwin Figueroa and George Roop.
Making an immediate UFC splash with a head-kick knockout in his debut, Thompson (8-1) was slowed down by losing a unanimous decision to Matt Brown in his sophomore effort. He has rebounded well, however, winning fights over Nah-Shon Burrell and Chris Clements.
He’ll now face Whittaker (11-3), who is looking to make a rebound of his own after losing a split decision to Court McGee in his last fight.
Whittaker made his way to the Octagon by winning the welterweight final of The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes, and then defeating Colton Smith.
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