Fall River’s Torres to Fight on Fox

Fall River’s Torres to Fight on Fox

            Undefeated UFC Strawweight, Tecia “The Tiny Tornado” Torres faces a familiar opponent, # 3 ranked, Rose “Thug” Namajunas in the opening bout on the Main Card of UFC on Fox 19, April 16^th. This is a rematch, Torres defeated Namajunas in 2013 by Unanimous Decision at Invicta FC 6. The two also stared on The Ultimate Fighter Season 20 and were eventual teammates on Team Pettis (Namajunas lost in the finale to former champ Carla Esparza).

 Now fighting out of Coconut Creek, Florida, Torres is ranked #4, (one spot below Rose) in the UFC’s 115lbs division. Each of the American Top Team member’s seven victories have come by way of UD, including wins over fellow TUF cast-mate, Angela Hill (6/13/15) and 6-2 Jocelyn Jones Lybarger (12/12/15).  

“The Tiny Tornado” will likely use her Tae Kwon Do and Karate inspired kicking game to close the five inch reach deficit she gives up to the 5’4” Rose. Tecia hasn’t submitted an opponent, but has done well to fight off her adversaries sub attempts, a skill she best employ Saturday as each of Namajunas’ four wins have come by Submission.

 

The twenty-two year old, “Thug” is coming off: a Dec 10^th, fifth round rear-naked choke (2:25) of Dancing with the Stars own Paige VanZant, and  two months earlier caught Angela Hill with the same choke in the first round (2:47) of their Oct 3^rd fight. The victor will likely get the winner of Joanna Jedrzejccyk and Claudia Gadelha’s July 8^th Championship match-up. The pair kick off Fox’s Main Card broadcast, a card headlined by #7 Rashad Evans challenging #4 Glover Teixeira in the Light Heavyweight Division.

Former Light Heavyweight Champion, Rashad Evans’ time in the UFC dates back to The Ultimate Fighter Season 2 when he bested the Heavyweight competition. “Suga” lost his last contest, an Oct. 3^rd UD to 21-5 Ryan Bader. The fight was the first for the Junior College National Champion Wrestler, in nearly two years (injuries had kept him from competition). The 36 year old will be looking for the 20^th win of his career when he faces 24-4 Glover Teixeira

Evans was scheduled to face Teixeira back on Feb 24^th, 2015, but a nagging knee injury was credited for Glover’s fight cancellation. Danbury Connecticut’s Teixeira comes into the fight on a two fight win streak, both finishes: Nov 7^th, he TKO’d Pat Cummins in the 2^nd round (1:12) and he Choked (Jon Jones’ opponent) Ovince Saint Preux unconscious in August.

Also appearing on the card are legendary Middleweights, 31-14 Dan Henderson and #5 Lyoto Machida. Henderson is coming off a Nov 7^th, first round KO courtesy of Vitor Belfort. Henderson and Machida faced back in 2013, “Hendo” lost the Split Decision, in fact including their match up, the former Olympic Wrestler has won just two in his last ten bouts. At Forty-five years old Dan hopes to uncork another of his 15 career KO’s, like he did to Tim Boetsch just :28 into their 6/6/15 bout.

Just 1-3 in his last four “The Dragon” finds himself in a similar position to Henderson. At 37 years old, the Machida that rattled off eight consecutive UFC wins as a LHW has unfortunately, aged six years.

In the Lightweight Division, the long awaited return of undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov will finally happen. Nurmagomedov hasn’t fought since April of 2014 when he beat current LW Champ, Rafael dos Anjos by UD. Originally scheduled to face Tony Ferguson (forced to withdraw due to injury) he now faces 12-1 Darrell Horcher in Horcher’s UFC debut. The contest will be a far cry from the Number-One Contender match fans hoped to see, but Horcher comes in, riding a five fight win streak, including his last two, both by third round TKO.

 

UFC Fight Night Teixeira VS. Evans Sat Apr. 16, 2016 8PM ET on Fox