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The UFC is back in Ireland for the first time since 2009.


It's official. The UFC will make its return to Ireland on Saturday, July 19, with a star-studded UFC Fight Night event at the O2 Arena in Dublin. This marks the UFC's first event in Ireland since UFC 93 in January of 2009.

In the first bout made official for the event, it's a meeting of welterweight unbeatens, as Iceland's Gunnar Nelson takes on New York's Ryan LaFlare. Combining for a 7-0 Octagon slate, Nelson (12-0-1) is coming off a Performance of the Night submission over Omari Akhmedov in March, while LaFlare (11-0) scored a decision win over John Howard in April.


The latest UFC Fight Night 46 card now includes:

Conor McGregor vs. Cole Miller
Ryan LaFlare vs. Gunnar Nelson
Ian McCall vs. Brad Pickett
Ilir Latifi vs. Tom Lawlor
Phil Harris vs. Neil Seery
Cody Donovan vs. Nikita Krylov

Updates to the UFC 175 and UFC Fight Night Dublin cards.

Despite a reported change to the bout yesterday, the middleweight fight between Bruno Santos and Chris Camozzi will remain on the UFC 175 card on July 5 in Las Vegas. Trevor Smith, who had agreed to fight in Santos’ place, will now fight Tor Troeng in Dublin on July 19.

An injury has forced UFC welterweight prospect Ryan LaFlare out of his July 19 UFC Fight Night bout against Gunnar Nelson. Stepping up to replace the New Yorker at the O2 in Dublin is surging former TUF 17 competitor Zak Cummings. Cummings is currently on a four-fight winning streak with Octagon victories over Benny Alloway and Yan Cabral. Originally scheduled to face Kenny Robertson on July 16th's UFC Fight Night event in Atlantic City, the Missouri product will now step into the Octagon three days later, with Robertson to soon get a new opponent.


UFC Fight Night 46: McGregor vs. Miller
July 19, 2014
The O2
Dublin, Ireland


Conor McGregor (14-2) vs. Cole Miller (21-8)
Brad Pickett (24-8) vs. Ian McCall (12-4-1)
Gunnar Nelson (12-0-1) vs. Zak Cummings (17-3)
Tom Lawlor (9-5) vs. Ilir Latifi (8-3)
Phil Harris (22-12) vs. Neil Seery (13-10)
Cody Donovan (8-4) vs. Nikita Krylov (16-4)
Norman Parke (19-2-1) vs. Naoyuki Kotani (33-10-7)

After a heated war of words on an episode of the MMA Hour back on May 5, fight fans have surely been looking forward to the clash between young Irish prospect Conor McGregor and Cole Miller in the main event of Fight Night Dublin on July 19.

But UFC.com learned Tuesday afternoon that Miller tore ligaments in his thumb during training and is now in a full cast. The 30-year-old Georgia native has been forced out of the highly-anticipated match up against McGregor, giving way to No. 15-ranked lightweight Diego Brandao, who will step in to challenge McGregor.

"Diego Brandao is explosive and a well-rounded fighter. This should be a war," said UFC president Dana White.

McGregor spoke to the media Tuesday before the news broke that he would fight a new opponent.

“It’s going to be a phenomenal experience,” said McGregor, who will fight in front of his home country.
“I’m not sure how many people the O2 Arena holds but I’m sure it’s going to sound like 10 times that amount are in there. I believe the roof is going to blow off the place. From the start of the show ‘til the finish, it’s going to be something special.

“This means everything to me. This media game is a game of repetition, and I’ve said it time and time again: I’m not here to make up the numbers…I’m here to take over. This is going to be the fastest sell-out in UFC history. This is perfect for me. This is what I wanted. These are the ingredients that are going to shoot me to where I’m looking to go, and that is right to the top."


http://www.ufc.com/news/miller-out-of-dublin

Dublin's Patrick Holohan may have fallen short of making it into the Ultimate Fighter 18 house, but on July 19, he will get a second shot at Octagon glory when he makes his UFC debut against Josh Sampo on the UFC Fight Night card being held in his hometown arena, the O2.

“I’m so happy, this is going to be something so special," said Holohan. "That stadium is going to be packed and hopefully they’ll all be rooting for me – it’ll be a big moment for me.”

9-0-1 as a pro, the 26-year-old flyweight has been sidelined since his TUF 18 elimination bout against Josh Hill last year. But with his back injury now a thing of the past, the stablemate of headliner Conor McGregor is ready for battle.

“I’m stronger now than I’ve ever been before," he said. "I thought that injury would be the end of the road for me, but I’m just so appreciative that I can even fight and carry on competing.”

Sampo, 11-3, has won five of his last six, including a November 2013 submission of Ryan Benoit. Holohan doesn't know much about his foe, but he's preparing for the fight of his life.

“I haven’t even seen a picture of the guy, but everyone in the UFC is tough and at a high level. I believe and trust in myself to get the job done.”

www.ufc.com

Ireland's Cathal Pendred has been on fight fans' "must see in the UFC" list for a long time, and on Saturday, July 19, they will get their wish, as the Ultimate Fighter 19 semifinalist will make his Octagon debut at the O2 in Dublin against fellow castmate Mike King.

"It will be an amazing feeling," said Pendred. "I have been representing Ireland on the international stage of MMA for a few years. We might not wear a green jersey, but we walk to the octagon with the tri-colour wrapped around us with pride. We will be representing our nation on the biggest stage in our sport. Ireland didn´t qualify for the World Cup this summer, so July 19th will be our World Cup."

Pendred joins teammate and headliner Conor McGregor on the UFC Fight Night card, which airs on UFC Fight Pass. All tickets for the event have been sold out.

As for the fight, Pendred and King are ready.

"I actually got on quite well with Mike when I was on the show," said Pendred. "We kept in contact afterwards, so I was little bit disappointed when I found out it was him. But that disappointment was completely overshadowed by my excitement of making my UFC debut in my hometown. The minute I was told Mike was my opponent, my friendship with him ceased. Until July 19th he is neither a friend to me or even a person; he is just an obstacle standing in the way of my dream. An obstacle that I will get through undoubtedly. I think Mike is a good fighter but not as good as me. I don´t predict how my fights are won, all I can predict is the one thing I know is certain: I will be the victor.

"He's a big, athletic, strong guy that has some holes in his game," said Ohio native King, who trains with UFC fighter Stephen Thompson and his father Ray in South Carolina. "His heart is as big as they come, so to beat him you have to stop him."

www.ufc.com


UFC Fight Night 46: McGregor vs. Brandao
July 19, 2014
The O2
Dublin, Ireland


Conor McGregor (14-2) vs. Diego Brandao (18-9)
Brad Pickett (24-8) vs. Ian McCall (12-4-1)
Gunnar Nelson (12-0-1) vs. Zak Cummings (17-3)
Tom Lawlor (9-5) vs. Ilir Latifi (8-3)
Phil Harris (22-12) vs. Neil Seery (13-10)
Cody Donovan (8-4) vs. Nikita Krylov (16-4)
Norman Parke (19-2-1) vs. Naoyuki Kotani (33-10-7)
Patrick Holohan (9-0-1) vs. Josh Sampo (11-3)
Cathal Pendred (13-2-1) vs. Mike King (5-0)

Extra tickets to The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s highly anticipated Dublin event are to go on sale Tuesday 1st July, following an unprecedented demand which saw the arena sell out in a matter of minutes.

UFC Fight Night Dublin: MCGREGOR vs. BRANDAO will take place at The 02 Arena in Dublin on Saturday 19th July and will see UFC star and local Irishman Conor “The Notorious” McGregor face up against Brazilian Diego “DB” Brandao in the main event.

After reconfiguring the in-house production at the sold-out O2 Arena, the UFC has been able to add extra seating to the event. This increased capacity will ensure UFC Fight Night Dublin shatters the company’s previous records in the capital for attendance and box office sales.

UFC Executive Vice President and Managing Director in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Garry Cook said: “We’re ecstatic that this event has captured people’s imagination like it has and sold out in its original plan. The level of support is unbelievable and The O2 will have a blistering atmosphere from the very first horn. UFC Fight Night Dublin is already the most successful UFC event ever in Europe, and we are already planning more events throughout this year and into 2015.”


UFC Fight Night 46:


MAIN CARD (UFC Fight Night, 3 p.m. ET):

Conor McGregor vs. Diego Brandao
Zak Cummings vs. Gunnar Nelson
Ian McCall vs. Brad Pickett
Naoyuki Kotani vs. Norman Parke

PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass, noon ET):

Ilir Latifi vs. Tom Lawlor
Phil Harris vs. Neil Seery
Mike King vs. Cathal Pendred
Trevor Smith vs. Tor Troeng
Cody Donovan vs. Nikita Krylov
Patrick Holohan vs. Josh Sampo