Hallmann-Tibau, Johnson-Pepey booked for UFC Fight Night 51 in Brazil
The UFC’s September return to Brazil is a couple steps closer to completion with the addition of a lightweight clash and a featherweight tilt.
Brazil’s Gleison Tibau (29-10 MMA, 14-8 UFC) is set to meet Piotr Hallmann (15-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) at 155 pounds, while Godofredo Pepey (10-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC) takes on Dashon Johnson (9-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) at 145. UFC officials recently announced the fight bookings for UFC Fight Night 51.
UFC Fight Night 51, which features a headlining rematch between heavyweights Andrei Arlovski and Antonio Silva, takes place Sept. 13 at Nilson Nelson Gymnasium in Brasilia, Brazil. The entire event streams on UFC Fight Pass in the United States.
Tibau less than two weeks ago topped Pat Healy at UFC Fight Night 45 in Atlantic City to get back on track after a knockout loss to Michael Johnson this past December. The win gave the big Brazilian three victories in his past four fights, a run that started with his most recent fight in his home country in May 2013, a submission of John Cholish in Jaragua do Sul.
Hallmann got back in the win column in June when he submitted Yves Edwards in the third round at UFC Fight Night 42. That was a rebound from his first loss since 2010, a decision setback to Al Iaquinta at UFC Fight Night 30 this past October in England that erased a 10-fight winning streak, including a submission victory in his UFC debut.
Pepey in March picked up a $50,000 “Performance of the Night†bonus for his flying knee knockout of Noad Lahat in the first round at UFC Fight Night 38 in Natal. That was his first win in more than a year after suffering back-to-back first-round losses to Sam Sicilia and Felipe Arantes. The Season 1 “TUF: Brazil†runner-up once again fights in Brazil, where all his fights have taken place.
Johnson will look to get back on track after suffering the first loss of his pro career a month ago in his UFC debut. Johnson was submitted by Jake Matthews with a triangle choke in the third round at UFC Fight Night 43 in New Zealand. Still, of his nine career wins, eight have come by stoppage.
With the additions, the latest UFC Fight Night 51 card now includes:
Andrei Arlovski vs. Antonio Silva
Piotr Hallmann vs. Gleison Tibau
Dashon Johnson vs. Godofredo Pepey
Lukasz Sajewski vs. Leonardo Santos
Sergio Moraes vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio
Joe Riggs vs. Paulo Thiago
Igor Araujo vs. George Sullivan
Jessica Andrade vs. Valerie Letourneau
Efrain Escudero vs. Francisco Trinaldo
Johnny Bedford vs. Rani Yahya
