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Ponzinibbio

This weekend, the UFC returns to Scotland for a stacked UFC Glasgow card featuring some of the best British talent on the promotion’s roster and a welterweight main event between two of the 170lb division’s most dangerous dark horses.

UFC Glasgow, also known as UFC Fight Night 113, will take place on Sunday, July 16 at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland as SBG Ireland’s Gunnar Nelson attempts to strengthen his claim to a place in the welterweight title picture against the surging South American Santiago Ponzinibbio.

Nelson and Ponzinibbio battle for breakthrough win in Scotland

Gunnar Nelson Santiago Ponzinibbio UFC Glasgow
Nelson and Ponzinibbio faceoff ahead of UFC Glasgow – Credit: YouTube/UFC

Despite many thinking Gunnar Nelson deserved a big name opponent after his impressive win over Alan Jouban at UFC Fight Night 107, the Icelandic submission specialist is himself being used as the litmus test for rising talent Santiago Ponzinibbio.

The 30-year-old Argentinian, who made his UFC debut in 2013, currently holds a 6-2 record in the promotion and is on a four fight win streak as he heads into the biggest fight of his career to date. After pleasing the fans with his performances during wins over Nordine Taleb and Zak Cummings, Ponzinibbio’s stock is at an all-time high with him being tipped to launch an assault on the welterweight division’s top-10 in 2017.

Meanwhile, Nelson looks to work his way into the welterweight title picture that he looked on course to enter previously, however losses to Rick Story and Demian Maia halted his progress. Having gone 7-2 since making his UFC debut in 2012, with six of those victories coming via submission, “Gunni” looks to continue his good run of form in Glasgow as he looks to stretch his win streak to three.

UFC experiences Scottish invasion as stars look to shine on home soil

Joanne Calderwood Stevie Ray Paul Craig UFC Glasgow
Stevie Ray, Joanne Calderwood and Paul Craig – Credit: Twitter

The UFC Glasgow fight card is filled from top to bottom with British talent including four Scots who will hope the home crowd can cheer them on to victory on Sunday night. Joanne Calderwood, Stevie Ray and Paul Craig all return to the Octagon this weekend with former EFC featherweight champion Danny Henry making his UFC debut.

Top strawweight contender Calderwood will be looking to get back in the win column after a loss to Jessica Andrade at UFC 203 added to her mixed record in the promotion of 3-2. With her recent performances showing improvements, there’s high hopes that “Jo Jo” can hand the undefeated Cynthia Calvillo her first defeat in the evening’s co-main event.

Also on the card is lightweight Ray who will face a tough test as he takes on a tenacious veteran in Philadelphia native Paul Felder. The Scotsman from Fife has won seven of his last eight bouts, including victories over Joe Lauzon and fellow Brit Ross Pearson, that has seen him rocket up the 155lb rankings. Felder, meanwhile, has won three of his last four and will hope to spoil Ray’s night in front of a hostile crowd.

Finally, Craig and Henry round off the Scottish representation on the night as “Bearjew” meets former TUF competitor Khalil Rountree in a Light-Heavyweight clash and Henry will face fellow debutant Daniel Teymur in the lightweight division.

UFC Glasgow Fight Card

Welterweight Main Event: Gunnar Nelson (16-2-1) vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio (24-3)

Women’s Strawweight Bout: Joanne Calderwood (11-2) vs. Cynthia Calvillo (5-0)

Lightweight Bout: Stevie Ray (21-6) vs. Paul Felder (13-3)

Middleweight Bout: Jack Marshman (21-6) vs. Ryan Janes (9-2)

Light-Heavyweight Bout: Paul Craig (9-1) vs. Khalil Rountree (5-2)

Heavyweight Bout: James Mulheron (11-1) vs. Justin Willis (4-1)

Welterweight Bout: Danny Roberts (13-2) vs. Bobby Nash (8-2)

Flyweight Bout: Neil Seery (16-12) vs. Alexandre Pantoja (17-2)

Welterweight Bout: Charlie Ward (3-2) vs. Galore Bofando (4-2)

Lightweight Bout: Danny Henry (10-2) vs. Daniel Teymur (6-0)

Bantamweight Bout: Brett Johns (13-0) vs. Albert Morales (7-1-1)

Bantamweight Bout: Leslie Smith (9-7-1) vs. Amanda Lemos (6-0-1)