UFC 170 adds Stephen Thompson vs. ‘TUF’ winner Robert Whittaker
The UFC 170 lineup continues to grow with the Wednesday addition of a welterweight fight.
Stephen Thompson (8-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) will meet Robert Whittaker (11-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) at the UFC’s February show in Las Vegas. UFC officials announced the new bout Wednesday through FOX Sports.
UFC 170 takes place Feb. 22 at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The main card, featuring a headliner between Rashad Evans and Daniel Cormier, airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and MMAjunkie.
Thompson has won back-to-back fights since a loss to Matt Brown at UFC 145 in April 2012. The renowned karate fighter and former kickboxing champion won his UFC debut with a “Knockout of the Night†headkick KO of Dan Stittgen at UFC 143, but then ran into trouble against Brown. But after more than a year away with an injury, “Wonderboy†rebounded with a win over Nah-Shon Burrell and a knockout of Chris Clements in September at UFC 165.
Whittaker, who won the U.K. vs. Australia edition of “The Ultimate Fighter with a decision victory over Brad Scott a year ago in his home country of Australia, will be looking to rebound from his first UFC loss. After beating Scott, Whittaker stopped Colton Smith with punches in May. But in August in Indianapolis, he dropped a split call to fellow “TUF†winner Court McGee.
With the addition, the UFC 170 card now includes:
Daniel Cormier vs. Rashad Evans
Rory MacDonald vs. Demian Maia
Rafael dos Anjos vs. Rustam Khabilov
Mike Pyle vs. T.J. Waldburger
Raphael Assuncao vs. Francisco Rivera
Stephen Thompson vs. Robert Whittaker
