Hakeem Dawodu returns at UFC 279 against Julian Erosa
UFC 279 is coming along quite nicely, as the UFC has been adding some very exciting bouts to the lineup.
The first big fight that was signed is a welterweight main event between no. 3 ranked Khamzat Chimaev, who faces former lightweight title challenger Nate Diaz in the headliner.
UFC 279 is to go down on September 10, 2022, live from the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada.
Following the next match booking at light-heavyweight between Ion Cutelaba and Johnny Walker, a new match up that was just booked today comes in the featherweight division between Hakeem Dawodu and Julian Erosa.
Hakeem Dawodu (12-2-1, 7 knockouts, 6 decisions) vs Julian Erosa (27-9, 11 knockouts, 12 submissions, 4 decisions)
Hakeem Dawodu started his mixed martial arts career in early 2014 following a very successful kickboxing tenure, seeing him go 42-5 (15 knockouts) as an amateur and 9-0 (7 knockouts) as a professional.
Following a 7-0-1 start to his MMA career, Dawodu would lose his UFC debut via submission (guillotine choke) at just 39 seconds into the first round, before winning his next five-straight, finishing up the streak with victories over Julio Arce and Zubaira Tukhugov.
Dawodu then lost to the undefeated no. 10 ranked former M-1 Challenge champion Movsar Evloev, before rebounding with a win over The Ultimate Fighter 27 winner Michael Trizano.
Julian Erosa on the other hand first came to the UFC with a record of 14-2 back at the end of 2015.
Following a split decision victory in his debut, he’d get knocked out in his next outing before being released by the promotion. Erosa would return in November of 2018 to go 0-3 in his sophomore effort with the UFC, before again being released.
However, one win on the regional circuit is all it took for him to get called back up to the big show, and he’s since gone 4-1 with three finishes. Some just bloom a little later than others it appears.
It seems Erosa is right in the middle of his peak, while Dawodu looks to become the next face of Canada in the MMA scene. Who do you see coming out on top of this featherweight contest going down at UFC 279?
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