Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson and Glover Teixeira are set to meet at UFC on FOX 20, while Holly Holm and Valentina Shevchenko are expected to headline the card.
Johnson (21-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC) returned to the UFC at light heavyweight in 2014 after being cut due to his weigh cutting issues when he was fighting at welterweight years earlier. ‘Rumble’ upset Phil Davis upon returning to the octagon before putting on a vicious display of his power and stopping Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in just 44-seconds. Johnson then stopped former title challenger Alexander Gustafsson in the Swede’s home country. ‘Rumble’ was given a title shot but after hurting Daniel Cormier early, lost via submission in the third round. Johnson is on a two fight win streak since the loss with knockout victories over Jimi Manuwa and Ryan Bader.
Teixeira (25-4 MMA, 8-2 UFC) went on a five fight win streak with four finishes to earn himself a title shot against Jon Jones. Teixeira lost for the first time since 2005 against Jones, but perhaps more surprisingly, lost in his next outing against Phil Davis. The Brazilian rebounded from the losses by picking up a submission victory over Ovince Saint Preux at UFC Fight Night 73 before stopping Patrick Cummins in the second round of their bout at UFC Fight Night 77. Most recently, Teixeira starched former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans in just one minute and forty eight seconds.
Holm (10-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) had a lot of hype around her prior to signing with the UFC, but after two lacklustre decision victories against Raquel Pennington and Marion Reneau, fans were shocked to see her given a title shot against Ronda Rousey. Holm entered UFC 193 as a huge underdog, but dominated, and eventually stopped Rousey, capturing the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship. In her first defence of the title, Holm faced Miesha Tate. Holm and Tate fought for five round and Holm was likely ahead on the scorecards before she was caught in a choke and refused to tap. Holm lost the fight, and the title at 3:30 of round 5 via technical submission.
Shevchenko (12-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) was a very highly touted Ukrainian prospect when she was signed by the UFC, and backed up the hype in her UFC debut by defeating Sarah Kaufman via decision in December of 2015. Shevchenko then faced Amanda Nunes, who now challenges Miesha Tate for the belt at UFC 200. Nunes and Shevchenko fought for three round at UFC 196 with Nunes taking home a decision victory.
UFC on FOX 20 takes place live on July 23, 2016 inside the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Holly Holm and Valentina Shevchenko are expected to headline the card.
