UFC lightweights Paul Felder and Rafael Dos Anjos collide this Sunday at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs Dos Anjos as part of a huge week of UFC that is live and exclusive on ESPN Australia New Zealand.
Number seven ranked lightweight Felder steps in to take this fight on a weeks’ notice, following the withdrawal of Islan Makhachev.
Originally set down to be a commentator, Felder will instead find himself doing five-rounds in the main event against former UFC Lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos.
Dos Anjos has had his recent career interrupted by injury and knows an impressive victory over Felder will see him climb the rankings towards another title opportunity.
Similarly, for Felder, he jumped at the chance to face the Brazilian fighter, knowing a victory over a former champion will see him in discussions for future fights at the pointy end of the division.
With current UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov announcing he would retire from the sport following his win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, the lightweight division remains wide open.
The likes of Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, Tony Ferguson and Dan Hooker are circling though, and Sunday’s winner can add themselves to that title picture.
The co-main event will also highlight two explosive welterweights as Abdul Razak Alhassan and Khaos Williams face off.
Alhassan (10-2-0) and Williams (10-1-0) are both at a similar point in their UFC careers, but know that only the winner can take a significant step forward in the welterweight division.
Sunday’s card is just the start of a blockbuster week of UFC action on ESPN Australia New Zealand.
Wednesday November 18 sees the latest installment of Dana White’s Contender Series at 12pm AEDT on ESPN.
Australia’s Chelsea Hackett will look to be the next local fighter to earn herself a UFC contract.
The Gold Coast native sits 3-0-1 in her MMA career, and will take on American Victoria Leonardo at the UFC Apex.
With 10 fights in her MMA career, Leonardo will have the Octagon experience on her side; however the 22-year-old Australian enjoys the height and reach advantage.
Hackett will look to follow in the footsteps of New Zealand’s Carlos Ulberg, who won a legion of new fans following his own impressive UFC contract win in the Dana White Contender Series last time out. Â
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UFC on ESPN Schedule –
Saturday November 14
3pm AEDT, UFC Live, ESPN
3.30pm AEDT, SC: UFC Fight Camp, ESPN
Sunday November 15
7am AEDT, UFC Fight Night: Felder vs Dos Anjos Pre Show, ESPN
8am AEDT, UFC Fight Night: Felder vs Dos Anjos Prelims, ESPN
11am AEDT, UFC Fight Night: Felder vs Dos Anjos Main Card, ESPN
Wednesday November 18
12pm AEDT, Dana White’s Contender Series featuring Australia’s Chelsea Hackett, ESPN Â
