UFC returns to Halifax, dynamic heavyweight matchup, Dos Santos vs Struve
UFC returns to Halifax, dynamic heavyweight matchup, Dos Santos vs Struve
Halifax, Canada – UFC® makes its highly anticipated return to Atlantic Canada on Sunday, February 19, 2017 at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax as a pivotal heavyweight fight between No.4 Junior Dos Santos and No.11 Stefan Struve headlines the card. Additional bouts for UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: DOS SANTOS vs. STRUVE 2 will be announced in the coming days and weeks.
A lot has happened since heavyweight standouts Junior Dos Santos (18-4, fighting out of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil) and Stefan Struve (32-8, fighting out of Beverwijk, The Netherlands) first met in 2009. Now, on February 19 in Halifax, the two are on a collision course to the top of the division, with former world champion Dos Santos eager to repeat his first victory, while Struve seeks redemption on the way to his first world title shot.
Dos Santos owns 13 wins by KO and one by submission. He has won 13 of his last 16 bouts, earning a unanimous decision win over Ben Rothwell in April during his most recent outing. The power-punching “Cigano,” who has delivered two fight-of-the-night and three knockout-of-the night performances over his decorated UFC career, is hungry to get back in the title picture and regain the belt.
Standing in his way is Struve, who has won seven of his last 10 bouts. Struve earned his sixth performance bonus for his first round KO of Antonio Silva in May, and followed that up with a second round submission over Daniel Omielanczuk at UFC 204 in October. The “Skyscraper” will look to utilize his size, kickboxing and slick submission game against Dos Santos to continue his climb up the heavyweight rankings.
UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: DOS SANTOS vs. STRUVE 2 will also feature the following fights:
– The Ultimate Fighter® Nations winner Elias Theodorou (12-1, fighting out of Toronto, Canada) meets The Ultimate Fighter® Brazil season one champion Cezar Ferreira (12-5, fighting out of Miami, Florida, USA by way of Sao Paulo, Brazil) in a battle at 185-pounds
– Welterweights Nordine Taleb (11-3, fighting out of Montreal, Canada) and Santiago Ponzinibbio (24-3, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Florida, USA) will square-off in Halifax
– Middleweight Jack Marshman (21-5, fighting out of Abertillery, South Wales) will make his second appearance inside the Octagon® when he takes on Thiago Santos (13-5, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
– Canadian Alessandro Ricci (10-4, fighting out of Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada), who debuted in August as a late replacement, will face Alvaro Herrera (9-4, fighting out of Guadalajara Mexico) in a lightweight bout
– Making his debut in the UFC, rising newcomer Aiemann Zahabi (6-0, fighting out of Montreal, Canada) will meet bantamweight Reginaldo Vieira (14-4, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil)
“We are so excited to bring the Octagon® back to Canada’s east coast. We created an electric atmosphere here in 2014 with over 10,000 fans packed into Scotiabank Centre,” said Joe Carr, UFC Senior Vice President, International. “We look to continue our momentum in Halifax after delivering a sold-out UFC 206 in Toronto last weekend.”
“We are delighted to welcome the UFC back to Atlantic Canada for the second time,” said Carrie Cussons, acting president and CEO of Trade Centre Limited, the Crown corporation that manages Scotiabank Centre. “As host to organizers, fans, and some of the world’s greatest athletes, Halifax’s renowned hospitality will surely make 2017’s event a memorable experience for all.”
Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: DOS SANTOS vs. STRUVE 2 go on sale Thursday, December 15 at 10 a.m. AST and are priced at $175, $125, $85, $50 and $40 (does not include taxes and service fees). Tickets are available for purchase via Ticket Atlantic and are limited to eight (8) per person.
UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Tuesday, December 13 at 10 a.m. AST via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Wednesday, December 14 starting at 10 a.m. AST. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.
Since 2008, UFC has staged 22 events in the Great White North, across nine different cities – Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Saskatoon, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg. UFC events have set single-day event gate records in five Canadian venues: Calgary’s Scotiabank Saddledome (UFC 149), Montreal’s Bell Centre (UFC 124), Ottawa’s The Arena at TD Place (UFC Fight Night), Toronto’s Rogers Centre (UFC 129) and Winnipeg’s MTS Centre (UFC 161). Collectively, the 22 events have seen more than 350,000 fans in attendance and millions worldwide watching on pay-per-view and broadcast television.
