Australia’s Megan Anderson will finally get her opportunity to fight in the UFC octagon.
Anderson will make her make her long anticipated UFC debut at UFC 225 in Chicago June 10 (AEST) against former bantamweight champion Holly Holm. The news was first reported by the Chicago Tribune.
The inclusion of Anderson (8-2) in the women’s featherweight division will be a welcome addition to the virtually empty weight class. Current featherweight champion Cris Cyborg has been forced to defend her belt against opponents who have all stepped up in weight to challenge for the title. At 6-feet tall, Anderson is a true featherweight who must cut weight to make the 145-pound limit (66kg). The fight against Holm (11-4) will be the first non-title women’s featherweight bout in UFC history.
Anderson last fought in January of 2017 where she knocked out Charmaine Tweet to win the Invicta FC women’s featherweight title, the title that was left vacant by Cyborg after she got called up to the UFC.
Anderson was then expected to challenge Cyborg for her UFC title, but personal issues postponed her UFC debut. She now takes on one of the most recognised names in the sport in Holly Holm, who famously knocked out Ronda Rousey in Melbourne in 2015.
The addition of Anderson, who hails from the Gold Coast, adds to the distinctive Australian flavour of UFC 225. In the main event, fellow Aussie Robert Whittaker will defend his UFC middleweight against Yoel Romero. Tai Tuivasa is also on the card and will take on former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski.
The latest UFC 225 card includes:
- Robert Whittaker vs. Yoel Romero – for middleweight title
- Colby Covington vs. Rafael dos Anjos – for interim welterweight title
- Megan Anderson vs. Holly Holm
- Curtis Blaydes vs. Alistair Overeem
- Joseph Benavidez vs. Sergio Pettis
- Carla Esparza vs. Claudia Gadelha
- Andrei Arlovski vs. Tai Tuivasa
- Rashad Evans vs. Anthony Smith
- Rashad Coulter vs. Allen Crowder
- Dan Ige vs. Mike Santiago
- CM Punk vs. Mike Jackson
