The UFC dominate the MMA landscape in July with their most stacked cards of the year so far, and we’ve got a full rundown of all this month’s must-see shows for you below.
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Friday, July 7th: The Ultimate Fighter Finale 25 – Johnson Vs Gaethje
Where: Las Vegas, USA
The action begins on Friday with the the TUF 25 Finale, the first of two events in two days from the UFC in Las Vegas, which will be headlined by former WSOF lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, who makes his UFC debut against Michael Johnson.
Other notable fights on the card include Julianna Lima Vs Tecia Torres, Elias Theodorou Vs Brad Tavares, Gray Maynard Vs Teruto Ishihara and Ed Herman Vs C.B. Dollaway.
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Saturday, July 8th: UFC 213 – Nunes Vs Shevchenko II
Where: Las Vegas, USA
UFC 213 is the focal point of the ‘International Fight Week’ celebrations in Las Vegas and is headlined by a rematch for the women’s bantamweight title between current champion Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko.
There’s another title up for grabs in the co-main event as Yoel Romero and Robert Whittaker battle for the interim middleweight belt, while former heavyweight champ Fabricio Werdum will engage in a trilogy fight with Alistair Overeem and Anthony Pettis clashes with Jim Miller.
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Friday, July 14th: Bellator 181 – Campos Vs Girtz III
Where: Oklahoma, USA
Bellator 181 is fronted by a third encounter between Derek Campos and Brandon Girtz, who each hold a win apiece against each other.
Also look out for Joe Warren in the co-main event going up against Steve Garcia, while Valerie Letourneau makes her Bellator debut against Emily Ducote and Kendall Grove fights John Salter.
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Saturday, July 15th: Invicta FC 24 – Dudieva Vs Boreila
Where: Kansas City, USA
A shuffle in the Invicta FC line-up after Tonya Evinger moved up to the UFC to fight Cris ‘Cyborg’ means that Milana Dudieva now fights Mara Romero Boreila at flyweight in the main event of Invicta FC 24.
Meanwhile, bantamweight action between Raquel Pa’Aluhi and Yana Kunitskaya now features in the co-main event of the evening.
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Sunday, July 16th: UFC Fight Night 113 – Nelson Vs Ponzinibbio
Where: Glasgow, Scotland
The UFC’s Octagon returns to Scotland on Sunday, July 16th with welterweight star Gunnar Nelson taking headline duties against Santiago Ponzinibbio.
Local hero Joanne Calderwood features in the co-main event against the fast-rising Cynthia Calvillo and another rising Scottish star Steven Ray fights Paul Felder.
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Saturday, July 22nd: UFC On FOX 25 – Weidman Vs Gastelum
Where: Long Island, USA
There’s more Octagon action a week later in the shape of UFC On FOX 25 from Long Island, New York, with Chris Weidman taking the hometown advantage against Kelvin Gastelum in the main event.
Meanwhile, in the co-main event the talented Thomas Almeida takes on Jimmie Rivera, who’s unbeaten in his four-fight UFC campaign to date, while Darren Elkins squares up to Dennis Bermudez.
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Saturday, July 29th: UFC 214 – Cormier Vs Jones II
Where: Anaheim, California
UFC 214 is unquestionably the most stacked show of the year so far with no less than three title fights leading the card, starting with the must-see main event rematch between light-heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones.
Then there’s Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino vying for the vacant women’s featherweight title against Invicta FC 135lb champ Tonya Evinger and welterweight kingpin Tyron Woodley looking for his latest title defense against Demian Maia.
That’s not all though, as Robbie Lawler will also be fighting Donald Cerrone on the main card, and there’s also the likes of Jimi Manuwa Vs Volkan Oezdemir and Renan Barao Vs Aljamain Sterling to look forward to.
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Sunday, July 30th: Rizin World Grand Prix 2017
Where: Saitama, Japan
Finally, rounding off the month Rizin are back with the start of their World Grand Prix 2017, which will be headlined by Kyoji Horiguchi Vs Hideo Tokoro as part of their bantanweight GP opening round.
Also included in that same GP will be the co-main event pairing of Anthony Birchak Vs Takafumi Otsuka.
