UFC 196 continues to take shape, as a light heavyweight bout between Gian Villante and Ilif Latifi has been added to the March 5 card.
As Newsday first reported, Long Island's Villante will try to make it two in a row against the Swedish fighter Latifi. The 30-year old Villante (14-6) is coming off a first-round knockout of Anthony Perosh at UFC 193 in Melbourne, Australia. He's won three of four overall, dating back to a split-decision victory over Sean O'Connell in June 2014.
Latifi, 32, has won back-to-back bouts himself, scoring knockouts over Hans Stringer and O'Connell, too, the latter coming just a couple of weeks ago at UFC Fight Night 81 in Boston.
Latifi is 11-4-(1) overall.
UFC 196 is set to take place on March 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. It will feature a superfight between current lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos and current featherweight champion Conor McGregor for the 155-pound title, as well as a women's bantamweight title fight between Miesha Tate and Holly Holm.