[Event] UFC on ESPN 3 - Ngannou vs. dos Santos - Jun 29

Dent · **Posted:** Wed Jun 26, 2019 7:03 pm

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UFC on ESPN 3: Ngannou vs. dos Santos is an upcoming mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that will be held on June 29, 2019 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States.

Fight card

Main card (ESPN)

Heavyweight Francis Ngannou vs. Junior dos Santos
Flyweight Jussier Formiga vs. Joseph Benavidez
Welterweight Demian Maia vs. Tony Martin
Lightweight Roosevelt Roberts vs. Vinc Pichel
Lightweight Drew Dober vs. Marco Polo Reyes
Light Heavyweight Alonzo Menifield vs. Paul Craig

Preliminary card (ESPN)

Bantamweight Ricardo Ramos vs. Journey Newson
Light Heavyweight Eryk Anders vs. Vinicius Castro
Lightweight Jared Gordon vs. Dan Moret
Light Heavyweight Dalcha Lungiambula vs. Dequan Townsend

Early Preliminary Card (ESPN+)

Women's Strawweight Emily Whitmire vs. Amanda Ribas
Heavyweight Maurice Greene vs. Junior Albini

Background

The event will mark the promotion's third visit to Minneapolis and first since UFC on FX: Browne vs. Bigfoot in October 2012.

A welterweight rematch between former UFC Welterweight Champions Tyron Woodley and Robbie Lawler was expected to serve as the event headliner. Woodley won the title in their first encounter via first round knockout in July 2016 at UFC 201. However, it was reported on May 16, 2019 that Woodley suffered a hand injury and was pulled from the fight. As a result, Lawler was removed from the card as well. Subsequently, a heavyweight bout between former UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos and former title challenger Francis Ngannou has been scheduled as the event headliner instead. The pairing has been scheduled twice before, first at UFC 215 and then again at UFC 239 but in both instances the fights were scrapped.

A light heavyweight bout between Roman Dolidze and Vinicius Moreira was scheduled at the event. However, an unknown reason saw Dolidze pull out of the fight on May 7 and he was replaced by Eryk Anders.

A featherweight bout between Chas Skelly and Jordan Griffin was originally scheduled for this event. However on June 13, Skelly pulled out of the fight citing injury. Griffin will now face promotional newcomer Vince Murdock.

A bantamweight bout between Sergio Pettis and Ricardo Ramos was scheduled to take place at this event. However on June 15, it was reported that Pettis pulled out of the bout for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by newcomer Journey Newson.

A light heavyweight bout between Justin Ledet and Dalcha Lungiambula was scheduled to take place at this event. However, on June 24, it was announced that Ledet was removed from the card. He was replaced by promotional newcomer Dequan Townsend.

A featherweight between Jordan Griffin and Vince Murdock was cancelled due to Griffin not getting medically cleared.

Jun 26 - Updated fight card & background
Jun 29 - Updated fight card & background

[Event] UFC on ESPN 3 - Ngannou vs. dos Santos - Jun 29

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