With a main event UFC Light Heavyweight Title fight between Rashad Evans and Lyoto Machida and a highly anticipated bad blood match between Matt Hughes and Matt Serra, the Ultimate Fighting Championship has confirmed with PRO MMA (promma.info) the remaining bouts for “UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida.”
UFC 98 will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 23 and will air live on pay-per-view beginning at 10:00 PM EST / 7:00 PM PST.
Middleweight Drew McFedries (fighting out of Bettendorf, Iowa), has scored three UFC wins so far in his career, with all three coming in the first round. Now the Ames, Iowa native will face devastating striker Xavier Foupa-Pokam a.k.a. “Professor X” (fighting out of Paris, France). A Muay Thai specialist, Foupa-Pokam has compiled an impressive 20-10 mixed martial arts record and looks to make a name for himself in the UFC.
UFC and WEC veteran Chael Sonnen (fighting out of West Linn, Oregon), is a former two-time NCAA national champion, All-American wrestler, and U.S. Olympic alternate that has made the successful jump to mixed martial arts. The 32-year-old will now have to deal with red-hot middleweight Dan Miller (Whippany, N.J.). Winner of his first three UFC fights, with two coming by submission, the Sparta, N.J. native needed only 1:03 to submit up-and-coming Jake Rosholt in February.
Former UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk (fighting out of Oak Grove, Minn.) is coming off a “Fight of the Night” victory against Tyson Griffin at UFC 90 and is looking to improve on his 37-3-1 record when he takes on lightning-fast lightweight Frankie Edgar (fighting out of Toms River, N.J.). Always pushing the pace and looking to make an exciting fight, the Summit, New Jersey born fighter is focused on the most important fight of his career.
Another fighter who has had success in both the UFC and the WEC, Brock Larson (Brainerd, Minn.) adds to the already stacked UFC welterweight division. In his first fight back in the UFC, Larson submitted Jesse Sanders with a first-round rear naked choke in their April match-up. Now Larson looks to improve his record to 27-2 when he faces UFC veteran Chris Wilson (fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). Originally from Portland, Oregon, Wilson moved to Brazil to enhance his training and now looks to get his second UFC win when he takes on Larson.
Remembered for stopping Dan Evensen with punishing leg kicks in the first round of their UFC 92 match-up, New Orleans native Pat Barry (fighting out of Milwaukee, Wis.) impressed many in his debut and looks to stay undefeated when he faces colossal heavyweight Tim Hague (fighting out of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada). The 265-pound fighter is 9-1 as a professional and is making his UFC debut.
A former Brooklyn ER nurse, Phillipe Nover (fighting out of Brooklyn, N.Y.) is best known for making it to the finale against Efrain Escudero on the eighth season of The Ultimate Fighter™. Now the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt is focused on getting his first UFC win when he takes on Kyle Bradley (fighting out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana) at UFC 98. Bradley, who trains with fellow UFC fighter Tim Credeur, is 13-6-1 professionally and looks for his first UFC win against Nover.
Coming off a strong submission victory against Brian Stann at UFC 97 is light heavyweight Krzysztof Soszynski (fighting out of Temecula Calif., via Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada). The Stalowa Wola, Poland native has two victories by kimura in two UFC matches but will have a difficult time if he looks for a third against Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Andre Gusmao (fighting out of New York, N.Y.). The Brazilian born light heavyweight looks to make some trouble for the dominating Soszynski.
Remembered for his impressive submission victory against Jon Koppenhaver at UFC 84, Tokyo’s Yoshiyuki Yoshida (fighting out of Albuquerque, New Mexico by way of Tokyo, Japan) brings a 10-3 record into the Octagon and faces retired U.S. Navy Seal Brandon Wolff (fighting out of Kailua, Hawaii). The 33-year-old welterweight will look for his first UFC win when he faces the Japanese veteran.
A Washington, D.C. product who now trains in Las Vegas, former The Ultimate Fighter Season 8 alumnus Dave Kaplan (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) will go for his first UFC win when he touches gloves against his former cast mate George Roop (fighting out of Tucson, Ariz.), who is also looking to get his hand raised for the first time in the Octagon on May 23rd.
UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida
UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
Rashad Evans vs. Lyoto Machida
Matt Hughes vs. Matt Serra
Dan Miller vs. Chael Sonnen
Sean Sherk vs. Frankie Edgar
Phillipe Nover vs. Kyle Bradley
Chris Wilson vs. Brock Larson
Patrick Barry vs. Tim Hague
Drew McFedries vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam
Yoshiyuki Yoshida vs. Brandon Wolff
David Kaplan vs. George Roop
Andre Gusmao vs. Krzysztof Soszynski