Up-to-the-minute news about UFC 159, taking place on Saturday, April 27 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. All bouts listed below have been verbally agreed to by both fighters.
The injury bug has struck again, with bantamweight Erik Perez being forced out of his UFC 159 bout with Johnny Bedford. Stepping in for "Goyito" is Bryan Caraway, a TUF alum with 14 submission victories.
Injuries Force Iaquinta, Proctor off UFC 159
Updated April 11
TUF Live castmates Al Iaquinta and Joe Proctor have both suffered injuries, forcing their bout off UFC 159. With no time to find a replacement fight, the card will go forward with 12 bouts.
Strikeforce Alum in for Injured Hettes
Updated March 19
Featherweight prospect Jimy Hettes has been bitten by the injury bug and forced out of his scheduled UFC 159 bout with Steven Siler.
In steps Kurt Holobaugh. Now making his UFC debut, Holobaugh gave a memorable performance his last bout, a January fight against Pat Healy in Strikeforce where he fought up one weight class and on short notice.
Goyito Gets Newark Fight
updated March 6
Winner of eight straight fights, Erik "Goyito" Perez has verbally agreed to face "Brutal" Johnny Bedford, who is on a three-fight win streak of his own, April 26 at UFC 159 in Newark, New Jersey.
UFC 159 Adds High-Profile Bouts
updated March 4
Updated: The third-ever women's bantamweight bout will go down at UFC 159 April 27 in Newark, as Olympic medalist Sara McMann faces off against German knockout artist Sheila Gaff.
At featherweight, fan favorites Leonard Garcia and Cody McKenzie have rebooked their bout. The two were originally slated to meet at UFC 155 in December, but McKenzie was forced to withdraw due to injury.
Earlier today: Two Strikeforce light heavyweight standouts have verbally agreed to make their UFC debuts against each other as 12-5 Ovince St. Preux will face 10-3 Gian "GP" Villante at UFC 159 April 27 in Newark, NJ.
Plus, featherweight prospects Jimy Hettes and Steven Siler will square off at the same event.
Heavyweights and Lightweights Added to UFC 159
updated January 31
A heavyweight matchup between Cheick Kongo and Roy "Big Country" Nelson has been booked for UFC 159 on April 27 in Newark, New Jersey, one of three new bouts confirmed today.
Former TUF Live teammates Joe Proctor will face Al Iaquinta in an all-East Coast showdown. Also at lightweight, 9-0 Yancy "Frisson" Medeiros will put his undefeated record on the line against 15-1 suplex king Rustam "Tiger" Khabilov.
Verbal agreements are in for all three matchups.
Bisping, Belcher, Miller Among UFC 159 Adds
updated January 29
Newark's April event is beefing up: The co-main event of UFC 159 will feature a grudge match between two top middleweights looking to get back into the title picture as Alan "The Talent" Belcher takes on Michael "The Count" Bisping.
Coming off of six straight wins, Pat "Bam Bam" Healy will face top ten-ranked lightweight Jim Miller. Miller, who hails from Sparta, New Jersey, is coming off a Fight of the Night-winning victory over Joe Lauzon.
Plus, welterweights James Head and Nick "The Jersey Devil" Catone will collide. Verbal agreements are in for all three bouts.
Davis and Magalhaes Set for April Showdown
updated January 29
After weeks of sparring between the two on Twitter, verbal agreements are in for a light heavyweight showdown between Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion Vinny Magalhaes and top ten ranked Phil "Mr. Wonderful" Davis.
The two will meet at UFC 159 in Newark April 27, on the same card headlined by a light heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen, a jiu-jitsu student of Magalhaes.
UFC 159: Jones vs. Sonnen Tickets on Sale Jan. 23
updated January 14
UFC light heavyweight champion and New Yorker Jon “Bones” Jones returns
to Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on Saturday, April 27 to defend
his title against controversial and unpredictable star, Chael Sonnen.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced today that it will be
returning to the Garden State this spring for this long awaited grudge
match between two of the sport’s most recognizable names.
Jones
and Sonnen serve as coaches on this season’s The Ultimate Fighter®, the
longest running sports reality show on television.
Tickets for UFC® 159: JONES vs. SONNEN are now on sale. onnen serve as coaches on this