UFC 205: Weidman vs. Romero, Edgar vs. Stephens
Chris Weidman vs. Yoel Romero, Frankie Edgar vs. Jeremy Stephens at UFC 205
The UFC spent nine years and an estimated $2,000,000 getting MMA regulated in New York. The Empire State was for years the only state or province in North America where MMA was prohibited. But amateur MMA contests were taking place, often without blood tests. It is known that fighters with Hepatitis and even HIV were competing in New York, but without regulation, nothing was stopping them.
The sport is now regulated, and on November 12, 2016 a triumphant return is planned for Madison Square Garden.
While no main event has been made yet, a tremendous card is planned including:
•Donald Cerrone vs. Kelvin Gastelum
•Tim Kennedy vs. Rashad Evans
•Thiago Alves vs. Al Iaquinta
•Liz Carmouche vs. Katlyn Chookagian
•Gian Villante vs. Marcos Rogério de Lima
That list has now grown by two:
•Chris Weidman vs. Yoel Romero
•Frankie Edgar vs. Jeremy Stephens
Although no official announcement has been made, MMAjunkie reports that Weidman vs. Romero has been finalized.
Weidman, the #2 contender in the division, has not fought since losing his title to Luke Rockhold at UFC 194 on December 12, 2015. Olympic silver medalist in freestyle wrestling Romero, the #4 contender, is on an incredible seven-fight win streak in the UFC. He is coming off a six-month suspension for a failed performance-enhancing drug test, apparently due to a tainted supplement.
The suspension took Romero out of a planned fight with Rockhold for the title. Michael Bisping was instead selected, and made full use of the opportunity. Bisping’s next fight is a rematch with Dan Henderson; their first fight ended in Hendo’s favor in what is widely considered to be the greatest KO in UFC history.
Brazil’s Combate announced the news about Edgar vs. Stephens at featherweight. Former lightweight champion Edgar came up short in his last fight, for the interim belt, vs. Jose Aldo. Stephens has gone back and forth the last few years, but is coming off a unanimous decision over former champion Renan Barao at UFC Fight Night 88 on May 29, 2016.