April is set to be a busy month for the UFC in particular as they have an event planned for every weekend, so let’s get right to it.
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Saturday, April 4th: UFC Fight Night 63: Mendes Vs Lamas
Where: Virginia, U.S.
The first of four UFC events this month takes place on Saturday night as two of the featherweight divisions top contenders Chad Mendes and Ricardo Lamas battle it out in the main event of UFC Fight Night 63.
Co-main event duties here go to Al Iaquinta and Jorge Masvidal, while there’s a solid line-up throughout on this card with even the likes of Gray Maynard and Liz Carmouche featuring on the prelims.
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Friday, April 10th: Bellator 136: Brooks Vs Jansen
Where: California, U.S.
Coming off back-to-back wins over Michael Chandler, lightweight champion Will Brooks takes center stage at Bellator 136 opposite Dave Jansen.
Currently on a ten fight winning streak, Rafael Carvalho takes on kickboxer Joe Schilling in the co-main event of this one.
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Friday, April 10th: WSOF 20: Branch Vs Markes
Where: Connecticut, U.S.
On the same night as the Bellator show is the latest WOSF offering which features a light-heavyweight tournament semi-final as current WSOF middleweight champ David Branch faces another former UFC fighter, Ronny Markes.
Speaking of ex-UFC fighters, Melvin Guillard is in the co-main event looking to rebound from an unsuccessful title challenge when he squares up to Ozzy Dugulubgov.
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Saturday, April 11th: UFC Fight Night 64: Cro Cop Vs Gonzaga
Where: Krakow, Poland
In a blast from the past, Mirko Cro Cop returns to the promotion at UFC Fight Night 64 to take on Gabriel Gonzaga in a rematch of their 2007 clash at UFC 70 which ended with Gonzaga KO’ing the former PRIDE legend with a head kick heard around the world.
Also look out for the co-main event which sees the UK’s Jimi Manuwa lock horns with Poland’s own Jan Blachowicz.
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Saturday, April 18th: UFC On FOX 18: Rockhold Vs Machida
Where: New Jersey, U.S.
One of the biggest fights of the month is undoubtedly UFC On FOX 18’s headliner which sees middleweight title hopeful Luke Rockhold fighting recent challenger Lyoto Machida who’d like to get another opportunity to fight for the belt.
Another two top middleweight contenders Yoel Romero and Rondaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza also feature in the co-main event, while Cub Swanson Vs Max Holloway should also be a fun featherweight scrap.
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Friday, April 24th: Invicta FC 12: Kankaanpaa vs. Souza
Where: Kansas, U.S.
Katja Kankaanpaa, AKA ‘The Killer Bunny’ defends her strawweight title against Livia Renata Souza in the main event of Invicta FC 12 which as usual will air on the UFC’s Fight Pass service.
Meanwhile, co-main event honors goes to ex-TUF fighter Roxanne Modaferri and Vanessa Porto who have met previously back in 2008 with Modaferri the winner on that occasion.
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Saturday, April 25th: UFC 186: Johnson Vs Horiguchi
Where: Montreal, Canada
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Finally, the month ends with UFC 186 on pay-per-view, a card that’s been hit by injuries, but still sees a title fight headlining as Demetrious Johnson defends his belt against Kyoji Horiguchi.
Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson is supposed to return to the UFC in the co-main event against Fabio Maldonado, assuming his legal dispute with Bellator doesn’t prevent him doing so, while Michael Bisping also fights CB Dollaway on the main card.
