Two more contender bouts added to MSG
Two top middleweights and two top flyweights will collide at UFC 295 this November.
Longtime contender Derek Brunson returns Nov. 11 when he takes on Roman Dolidze. Both men aim to bounce back from recent losses. Additionally, ranked flyweights Steve Erceg and Matt Schnell have been once again booked to face one another. The event takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The promotion officially announced both bouts Wednesday. The Brunson-Doldize matchup was first reported by Sentanta Sports.
Brunson (23-9 MMA, 17-8 UFC) teased retirement in recent years but pivoted away from that idea at the end of 2022. Brunson attempts to snap a two-fight skid. While the losses came by TKO, they came against top contenders Jared Cannonier and Marvin Vettori. Prior to the skid, Brunson won five in a row.
Dolidze (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) was on a tear through the middleweight division until he faced Vettori in March and lost a unanimous decision. The defeat snapped a four-fight winning streak that included TKO victories over Jack Hermansson and Phil Hawes among others.
Erceg (10-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) and Schnell (16-8 MMA, 6-5 UFC) were originally scheduled to fight at UFC 289 in June in what was to be Erceg’s promotional debut. Schnell withdrew from the fight and was replaced by David Dvorak, who Erceg defeated by unanimous decision.
With the additions, the UFC 295 lineup includes:
- Champion Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic – for heavyweight title
- Derek Brunson vs. Roman Dolidze
- Jessica Andrade vs. Mackenzie Dern
- Steve Erceg vs. Matt Schnell
- Kevin Borjas vs. Joshua Van
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.
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