While it is only August, the UFC is starting to announce all the headlining bouts for the end of the year. Of course, UFC on Fox 17 was announced yesterday for December 19th for Orlando, Florida. No bouts were announced at the time though.
Now we know that Rafael dos Anjos is set to headline the car din a rematch with current number one contender Donald Cerrone. The first bout between he two essentially set off a chain of events for the two to face off again. The two first faced off two years ago almost to the date and dos Anjos came out the victor by decision. While he lost his next bout against Khabib Nurmagomedov, he went on to win for straight bouts that included Benson Henderson, Nate Diaz and Anthony Pettis. Cerrone went on the eight straight fights including top ten fighters Edson Barboza, Jim Miller, Eddie Alvarez, and Benson Henderson, and now he has a chance to become champion and avenge one of his losses. No other fights are announced, but considering this one will be free, no one can complain.
Also, another title fight has been added to the docket to create a huge card for this December. UFC 194 is already headlined by Conor McGregor trying to unify the titles with Jose Aldo. Many thought that Rousey would be not he card as well, but now it looks like the middleweight title will be not he line instead. The undefeated Chris Weidman will put his title on the line against former Strikeforce champion Luke Rockhold. Everyone thought that Rockhold was going to challenge for the title when he joined the UFC and was on a nine fight win streak. in his debut, he was felled by Vitor Belfort, with the TRT, but has gone on to win four straight with finishes which the run was capped off by him roughing up former 205 champ Lyoto Machida like no one else ever has. Now, he has a chance to capture the biggest title in all of MMA.