The UFC returns to Halifax for the first time since October 2014 as UFC Fight Night Halifax emanates from Scotiabank Centre Sunday. There is no shortage of Canadian talent featured on this card, including two Canucks making their promotional debuts.
Here are the Canadians to keep an eye on.
Randa Markos (Windsor, Ont.) vs. Carla Esparza
In a grudge match that has been brewing since these two strawweights competed on The Ultimate Fighter 20, Markos battles former UFC 115-pound champion Esparza. Markos (6-4) has struggled with consistency throughout her UFC tenure, amassing a 2-3 record in the Octagon. She’s coming off a disappointing outing against Cortney Casey at UFC 202 where she was submitted in the first round. Since the loss, the 31-year-old has left her old stomping grounds at Michigan Top Team and is training with a number of different gyms in preparation for this fight. Esparza (11-3) lost her UFC title to current champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk at UFC 185 and didn’t return to action for over a year. She’s coming off a unanimous decision victory over Juliana Lima at UFC 197 and competes in Canada for the first time in her career.
Listen to Markos explain why she’s switched up camps and has hired a new nutritionist for this matchup.
Elias Theodorou (Toronto) vs. Cezar Ferreira
TUF Nations winner Theodorou battles TUF Brazil winner Ferreira in a middleweight affair. Theodorou (12-1) rebounded from his loss to Thiago Santos last year as he outpointed Sam Alvey by unanimous decision back at UFC Fight Night 89 in June. Theodorou looks to push his UFC record to 6-1 with a win on Sunday. Ferreira (11-5) struggled with inconsistency early in his UFC career going 3-3 in his first six fights, but has since racked off three straight wins heading into this matchup.
Listen to Theodorou talk about what he’s been up to since his win last June.
Alessandro Ricci (Woodbridge, Ont.) vs. Paul Felder
Ricci searches for his first UFC victory as he battles fellow lightweight Felder. Ricci (10-4) is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Jeremy Kennedy at UFC on FOX 21 in a matchup that he took on short notice. For this camp, Ricci has been working exclusively in Las Vegas with Angelo Reyes, the striking coach of former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir. Felder (12-3) has also switched things up for this training camp and has been training Wisconsin at Roufusport. The 31-year-old is coming off the first knockout loss of his career to Francisco Trinaldo back at UFC Fight Night 95.
Listen to Ricci talk about his training camp in Las Vegas ahead of this matchup.
Nordine Taleb (Montreal) vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio
Tristar product Taleb looks to make it two straight wins when he battles welterweight Ponzinibbio. Taleb (12-3) is coming off an impressive second round knockout over Erick Silva at UFC 196. The 35-year-old was slated to fight Alan Jouban at UFC Fight Night 90 last July, but was forced to withdraw due to injury. Ponzinibbio (23-3) has amassed an impressive 5-2 record in the UFC, including a unanimous decision victory over Zak Cummings at UFC Fight Night 92 in his last fight.
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Ryan Janes (Victoria, B.C.) vs. Gerald Meerschaert
In a matchup that has potential to win Fight of the Night honours, Janes battles Roufusport product Meerschaert. Janes (9-1) is coming off a successful UFC debut against Keith Berish at UFC Fight Night Albany back in December in a matchup that showcased his iron chin. Meerschaert (25-8) won his UFC debut on that same card, stopping Joe Gigliotti in the first round by submission. The last time Meerschart lost a fight was in 2014, while Janes hasn’t lost a fight since 2009.
Listen to Janes talk about his successful UFC debut.
Listen to Meerschart talk about why this will be his first knockout victory.
Gavin Tucker (Halifax) vs. Sam Sicilia
Tucker makes his UFC debut in his hometown as he battles TUF 15 competitor Sicilia. Tucker (9-0) has won eight of his nine career fights by stoppage, including a first-round knockout over victory over Bellator veteran Chris Coggins in his last fight at ECC 25. Sicilia (15-7) heads into this contest off back-to-back losses to Doo Ho Choi and Gabriel Benitez. The 31-year-old has a UFC record of 5-6.
Listen to Tucker talk about his UFC contract and what it will means to fight in front his hometown.
Aiemann Zahabi (Montreal) vs. Reginaldo Vieira
If the last name sounds familiar, Aiemann is the younger brother of famed Tristar Gym coach Firas Zahabi and will be making his promotional debut on Sunday. Zahabi (6-0) was signed to the UFC back in September and has won all six of his career fights by first-round stoppage. Vieira (13-4) is 1-1 in the UFC, earning a unanimous decision win over Dileno Lopes and losing by submission to Marco Antonio Beltran at UFC Fight Night 90 in his last bout.
Listen to Zahabi talk about how this UFC contract came together.
Here’s the full card for UFC Fight Night Halifax:
— Travis Browne (18-5-1) vs. Derrick Lewis (17-4)
— Johny Hendricks (17-6) vs. Hector Lombard (34-6-1)
— Gavin Tucker (9-0) vs. Sam Sicilia (15-7)
— Elias Theodorou (12-1) vs. Cezar Ferreira (11-5)
— Sara McMann (10-3) vs. Gina Mazany (4-0)
— Alex Ricci (10-4) vs. Paul Felder (12-3)
PRELIMINARY CARD
— Nordine Taleb (12-3) vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio (23-3)
— Randa Markos (6-4) vs. Carla Esparza (11-3)
— Aiemann Zahabi (6-0) vs. Reginaldo Vieira (13-4)
— Jack Marshman (21-5) vs. Thiago Santos (13-5)
— Ryan Janes (9-1) vs. Gerald Meerschaert (25-8)
