UFC
Several top 10 ranked UFC fighters set for new bouts
UFC lightweight Dan Hooker. Photo via Instagram (@danhangman)
A bunch of top 10 ranked UFC fighters are set for new fights in the coming months.
Check out the new matchups coming up here!
Alexander Volkov vs. Alexander Romanov
Alexander Volkov. Photo: USA Today Sports
Ranked heavyweights Alexander Volkov and Alexander Romanov will clash at UFC Fight Night 221 on March 11 in Las Vegas. Eurosport NL first reported the matchup.
No. 8 ranked Volkov faced nothing but the stiffest competition over the past five years and comes from a first-round TKO against Jairzinho Rozenstruik in June.
Romanov currently holds the No. 13 spot and is 5-1 in the promotion. He took his first-ever pro loss against Marcin Tybura in August.
Dan Hooker vs. Jalin Turner headed to UFC 285
Dan Hooker. Photo: Jeff Bottari / Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports
Lightweight fan favorite Dan Hooker will face No. 10 ranked lightweight Jalin Turner next.
In an interview with The Mac Life, Hooker announced that the two will square off at UFC 285 on March 4.
“I’m fighting Jalin Turner. Top 10, baby,” Hooker said. “Obviously, had a couple beers with him about a month ago. Twitter rampage proceeded to follow, as it does. Just fishing with dynamite, really. I think I said that he turned the fight down. And he said, ‘Hey man, I didn’t turn that fight down.’ And I was like, ‘Well, let’s have a fight then.’ And it worked.”
Hooker comes from a win against Claudio Puelles in November, while Turner has five straight wins in the UFC.
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Chris Curtis
Kelvin Gastelum. Photo: Jason Silva – USA TODAY Sports
Middleweights Kelvin Gastelum and Chris Curtis are set to fight at UFC 287 in April. The matchup was first reported by MMA Mania.
No. 13 ranked Gastelum was scheduled to fight at the first event of 2023, against Nassourdine Imavov, but had to pull out due to a mouth injury. The former title challenger had a rough past couple of years, with just one sole win in six fights.
Curtis comes from a KO win against Joaquin Buckley in December. He’s currently ranked No. 14 in the middleweight division.
Song Yadong vs. Ricky Simon
Song Yadong. Photo USA Today Sports
Top ranked bantamweight contenders Song Yadong and Ricky Simon are set to clash on April 22.
Eurosport NL was first to report the bout, which takes place on a UFC event that currently has no announced venue or location.
Yadong holds the No. 8 spot on the official rankings and comes from a loss against Cory Sandhagen. No. 10 ranked Simon rides a five-fight winning streak that includes names like Jack Shore, Raphael Assunção and Brian Kelleher.
Read more: Updated UFC rankings: Massive changes in multiple divisions!