The UFC returns to the Tampa Bay area for the first time since 2009, as UFC on FOX 19 emanates from the Amalie Arena. While fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov, John Dodson, Rose Namajunas and Tecia Torres look to inch closer to potential title shots, other combatants look to maintain their employment with the UFC.
Here are a trio of fighters on the hot seat, heading into Saturday’s UFC on FOX 19.
Rashad Evans
Due to the lack of depth in the light-heavyweight division, even a devastating loss to Glover Teixeira likely wouldn’t mean the end of Evans’ tenure with the UFC. However, the pressure is on the former champion to come through with a victory if he ever wants to get another shot at championship gold. Evans is coming off a unanimous decision defeat to Ryan Bader at UFC 192, which was his first fight in nearly two years. Before Evans suffered a leg injury in 2013, the 36-year-old was riding a two-fight winning streak and even had a proposed matchup with Daniel Cormier at UFC 170 before pulling out. Teixeira comes into this matchup off two straight stoppage victories over Ovince Saint Preux and Patrick Cummins. Teixeira is also 36, but he’s still dangerous and could finish Evans anywhere the fight goes. Should Evans endure another loss, its possible the UFC could ask him to move down to the middleweight division where he is likely better suited.
Cub Swanson
In mid-2014 it looked like featherweight Swanson was on the verge of a 145-pound title shot after defeating Jeremy Stephens, but after back-to-back submission losses to Frankie Edgar and Max Holloway the 32-year-old now finds himself in desperate need of a victory. The Holloway loss was especially devastating because Swanson was the betting favourite heading into the matchup and was completely outclassed. He’s now set to face Brazilian Hacran Dias, who’s coming off back-to-back victories over Darren Elkins and Levan Makashvili. If Swanson puts on another lacklustre performance don’t be surprised if the UFC hands the Jackson-Winkeljohn product his walking papers.
Cezar Ferreira
Blackzilians product Ferreira moves back up to the middleweight division after a failed stint at 170 pounds. After going 2-0 to start his UFC career, the TUF Brazil middleweight winner has lost three of his last four fights all by first-round knockout. One of the biggest questions surrounding the 31-year-old is the durability of his chin, as he’s taken an excessive amount of punishment in his last four fights. Ferreira takes on fellow late replacement Oluwale Bamgbose, who’s coming off a first-round knockout victory over Daniel Sarafian in February. Another loss for Ferreira should undoubtedly lead to his release from the promotion, despite the fact he’s a TUF tournament winner.
(Originally there were supposed to be five fighters on the “hot seat” but a middleweight tilt between Lyoto Machida and Dan Henderson was removed from the event after Machida admitted to using a banned substance. Machida and Henderson have each lost three of their past four fights and this was going to be important for the future of their respective careers. Henderson says he’s fighting Hector Lombard at UFC 199, while it’s unclear where Machida goes from here.)
MAIN CARD
— Rashad Evans (19-4, 1 NC) vs. Glover Teixeira (24-4)
— Khabib Nurmagomedov (22-0) vs. Darrell Horcher (11-1)
— Rose Namajunas (4-2) vs. Tecia Torres (7-0)
— Cub Swanson (21-7) vs. Hacran Dias (23-3-1)
PRELIMINARY CARD
— Beneil Dariush (12-1) vs. Michael Chiesa (13-2)
— John Dodson (17-7) vs. Manny Gamburyan (15-8, 1 NC)
— Bethe Correia (9-1) vs. Raquel Pennington (6-5)
— Court McGee (17-4) vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio (21-3)
— Randy Brown (7-0) vs. Michael Graves (5-0)
— Cezar Ferreira (8-5) vs. Oluwale Bambose (6-1
— Drew Dober (16-7, 1 NC) vs. Islam Makhachev (12-1)
— Omari Akhmedov (15-3) vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (14-5)