Demetrious, pictured attacking bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz, will be going for the new flyweight belt. Photo: UFC.
At the post-UFC 140 press conference, UFC president Dana White announced the introduction of a new division, for the most diminutive fighters on the promotion’s roster. The flyweight division, for fighters under 125 lbs (57 kg), should bring some lively fights to the octagon.
The new division is set for debut at the March 3 UFC on FX 2 show in Sydney, Australia, with four flyweights facing off in a mini-GP: Demetrius Johnson will take on Tachi Palace champion Ian McCall, while Shooto Japan champ Yasuhiro Urushitani will do battle with the dangerous Joseph Benavidez, who has beaten the likes of Eddie Wineland, Miguel Torres, Rani Yahya and Jeff Curran. The winners of the two fights will square off for the title later in 2012. Check out the card so far:
UFC on FX 2
Sydney, Australia
March 3, 2012
Thiago Pitbull vs Martin Kampmann
Ian MacCall vs Demetrious Johnson
Joseph Benavidez vs Yasuhiro Urushitani
The post UFC launches flyweight division with mini-GP first appeared on Graciemag.