The UFC is taking over Las Vegas on Mexican Independence Day, and the top of the card is filled with great fights.
Former middleweight contender Kelvin Gastelum is back at welterweight, where he will take on undefeated Shavkat Rachmanov. The bout will serve as the co-main event for the UFC Fight Night event taking place on September 16th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The non-pay-per-view event will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
UFC President Dana White officially announced News on social media Wed. Headlining the event is a women’s flyweight title rematch between champion Alexa Grasso and former champion Valentina Shevchenko.
Rakhmonov (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) will enter the cage for the second time this year. At UFC 285, Jeff Neal performed in Incredible Fight Night. The 28-year-old has finished off all five of his UFC opponents, featuring Alex Oliveira, Michelle Braziers and Neil Magne, while scoring a TKO against Carlston Harris.
Gastelum (18-8 MMA, 12-8 UFC) last competed at welterweight in 2016, taking a unanimous decision over former champion Johnny Hendrix at UFC 200. He will also compete for the second time in 2023. In his first appearance of the year, he earned He won a unanimous decision win over Chris Curtis at UFC 287. The victory snapped a skid twice against former title challenger Jared Cannonier and former champion Robert Whitaker.
The current UFC Fight Night lineup for September 16th includes:
- Champion Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko – Women’s Flyweight Title
- Shavkat Rachmanov vs. Kelvin Gastelum
- Chris Curtis vs. Anthony Hernandez
- Lupita Godinez vs. Sam Hughes
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