Sendur
15-04-2009, 09:23
While it certainly won't be the evening's most anticipated heavyweight bout of the night - that honor will undoubtedly belong to MMA legends Randy Couture (http://www.mmauniverse.com/fighters/SS1832) and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (http://www.mmauniverse.com/fighters/SS1554) - heavy handed Brazilian Junior dos Santos (http://www.mmauniverse.com/fighters/SS16327) and 12-year veteran Justin McCully (http://www.mmauniverse.com/fighters/SS2712) have agreed to meet at UFC 102 (http://www.mmauniverse.com/events/SS11534).
Tatame.com was the first to report the possibility of the matchup, and MMAjunkie.com (http://mmajunkie.com/) has since learned from sources close to the bout that both fighters have agreed to the contest, though bout agreements have not yet been finalized.
Although not yet announced by the organization, UFC 102 (http://www.mmauniverse.com/events/SS11534) is expected to take place Aug. 29 in Portland, Ore.
The 6-foot-4 dos Santos has seen his stock quickly rise in the UFC after coming into the organization as a virtual unknown. The Brazilian was viewed by many as a mere formality for Fabricio Werdum (http://www.mmauniverse.com/fighters/SS2460) in October 2008 en route to his shot at a UFC title. When dos Santos dispatched of Werdum by TKO in just 1:21, many began to take notice of "Cigano."
When dos Santos followed the performance up with a 54-second drubbing of Stefan Struve (http://www.mmauniverse.com/fighters/SS15896) at UFC 95: Sanchez vs Stevenson (http://www.mmauniverse.com/events/SS10513) in February, many began calling the Team Nogueira fighter a legitimate contender.
McCully began fighting professionally in 1997. Fighting in Pancrase, Rings, Jungle Fight and the World Vale Tudo Championship, among others, McCully debuted in the UFC in April 2007.
"The Insane One" followed up a surprising unanimous-decision win over Antoni Hardonk (http://www.mmauniverse.com/fighters/SS2806) with a submission loss to Gabriel Gonzaga (http://www.mmauniverse.com/fighters/SS2454). McCully has since earned a unanimous-decision win over Eddie Sanchez (http://www.mmauniverse.com/fighters/SS1313) in December 2008, the 33-year-old's most recent appearance in the cage.
Tatame.com was the first to report the possibility of the matchup, and MMAjunkie.com (http://mmajunkie.com/) has since learned from sources close to the bout that both fighters have agreed to the contest, though bout agreements have not yet been finalized.
Although not yet announced by the organization, UFC 102 (http://www.mmauniverse.com/events/SS11534) is expected to take place Aug. 29 in Portland, Ore.
The 6-foot-4 dos Santos has seen his stock quickly rise in the UFC after coming into the organization as a virtual unknown. The Brazilian was viewed by many as a mere formality for Fabricio Werdum (http://www.mmauniverse.com/fighters/SS2460) in October 2008 en route to his shot at a UFC title. When dos Santos dispatched of Werdum by TKO in just 1:21, many began to take notice of "Cigano."
When dos Santos followed the performance up with a 54-second drubbing of Stefan Struve (http://www.mmauniverse.com/fighters/SS15896) at UFC 95: Sanchez vs Stevenson (http://www.mmauniverse.com/events/SS10513) in February, many began calling the Team Nogueira fighter a legitimate contender.
McCully began fighting professionally in 1997. Fighting in Pancrase, Rings, Jungle Fight and the World Vale Tudo Championship, among others, McCully debuted in the UFC in April 2007.
"The Insane One" followed up a surprising unanimous-decision win over Antoni Hardonk (http://www.mmauniverse.com/fighters/SS2806) with a submission loss to Gabriel Gonzaga (http://www.mmauniverse.com/fighters/SS2454). McCully has since earned a unanimous-decision win over Eddie Sanchez (http://www.mmauniverse.com/fighters/SS1313) in December 2008, the 33-year-old's most recent appearance in the cage.