Erik Koch vs. Rafaello Oliveira booked for UFC 170 in Vegas
A lightweight bout between Erik Koch (13-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC) and Rafaello Oliveira (15-6 MMA, 2-5 UFC) is the latest addition to next month’s quickly filling UFC 170 lineup.
UFC officials today announced the bout.
UFC 170 takes place Feb. 22 at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.
It’s not clear where Koch vs. Oliveira will be placed on the lineup.
Koch, once one of the UFC’s most promising 145-pounders, is likely in a must-win situation following back-to-back losses to Ricardo Lamas and Dustin Poirier. Prior to the setbacks, the WEC vet was on a four-fight winning streak with three stoppages, including “Knockout of the Night†wins over Raphael Assuncao and Francisco Rivera. He now hopes for new life at 155 pounds.
Oliveira, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, also needs a win following a recent 1-3 run in his second UFC stint. Most recently, the Brazilian, who went 1-2 in his first UFC stint back in 2010, suffered a TKO loss (due to leg kicks) to Edson Barboza.
The latest UFC 170 card includes:
Champ Ronda Rousey vs. Sara McMann – for women’s bantamweight title
Daniel Cormier vs. Rashad Evans
Rory MacDonald vs. Demian Maia
Rafael dos Anjos vs. Rustam Khabilov
Alexis Davis vs. Jessica Eye
Mike Pyle vs. T.J. Waldburger
Erik Koch vs. Rafaello Oliveira
Bryan Caraway vs. Lucas Martins
Raphael Assuncao vs. Francisco Rivera
Stephen Thompson vs. Robert Whittaker
