UFC Fight Night preview: Harris' 1st bout since personal tragedy
Need-to-know info
Date: Saturday, May 16
Time: Prelims - 7:00 p.m. ET
Main Card - 9:00 p.m ET
Venue: VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville
TV: Prelims - ESPN (U.S.), TSN (Canada)
Main Card - ESPN+ (U.S.), TSN (Canada)
Harris vs. Overeem - Heavyweight bout
Heavyweight Walt Harris will step into the cage for the first time since his stepdaughter's death to face Alistair Overeem in the main event.
Harris (13-7) carries a four-fight unbeaten streak into the matchup, including a 12-second flying-knee knockout over Alexey Oleinik at UFC San Antonio in July. The 36-year-old has turned his career around after going 1-4 during his first five UFC bouts.
Overeem (45-18, NC) looks to get back on the winning track after suffering a fifth-round TKO loss to Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC D.C. The 39-year-old has 43 more career fights than his opponent and made his UFC debut just 11 months after Harris' first professional fight.
While "The Demolition Man" boasts 23 victories by TKO/KO, he's also been knocked out 14 times in his career.
Gadelha vs. Hill - Women's strawweight bout
Former 115-pound title challenger Claudia Gadelha aims to make it two wins in a row in the evening co-feature against Angela Hill.
Gadelha (17-4) hasn't competed since a July 2019 unanimous decision victory over Randa Markos at UFC 239. The Brazilian has struggled to find consistency as of late in the Octagon, alternating wins and losses in her last four fights.
The 31-year-old has gone the distance nine times in her UFC career.
Hill (12-7) has been one of the most active fighters on the roster, competing six times since the start of 2019. "Overkill" last competed at UFC Auckland in February, coming away with a unanimous decision victory over Loma Lookboonmee.
The 34-year-old comes into this strawweight matchup off three straight victories.
Barboza vs. Ige - Featherweight bout
Edson Barboza drops down to the 145-pound division for the first time in his career as he battles rising featherweight Dan Ige.
Barboza (20-8) has endured one of the toughest runs in the Octagon as of late, having fought the likes of Justin Gaethje, Dan Hooker, and Khabib Nurmagomedov. The American Top Team standout has lost four of his last five fights.
The 34-year-old will look to avoid the first three-fight losing streak of his career.
Ige (13-2) has remained undefeated since losing his UFC debut to Julio Arce in January 2018, racking up four straight victories. The 28-year-old most recently defeated Mirsad Bektic by split decision at UFC 247 in February.
Barboza will have a 4-inch height and reach advantage in this featherweight matchup.
Main Card
- Alistair Overeem vs. Walt Harris - Heavyweight
- Claudia Gadelha vs. Angela Hill - Strawweight
- Edson Barboza vs. Dan Ige - Featherweight
- Eryk Anders vs. Krzysztof Jotko - Middleweight
- Song Yadong vs. Marlon Vera - Featherweight
Prelims
- Matt Brown vs. Miguel Baeza - Welterweight
- Kevin Holland vs. Anthony Hernandez - Middleweight
- Don'Tale Mayes vs. Rodrigo Nascimento Ferreira - Heavyweight
- Cortney Casey vs. Mara Romero Borella - Flyweight
- Giga Chikadze vs. Irwin Rivera - Featherweight
- Nate Landwehr vs. Darren Elkins - Featherweight