The UFC has announced a pair of new bouts for different cards in February.
The promotion’s pay-per-view event of the month, scheduled for Feb. 6 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, will feature a light heavyweight showdown between Misha Cirkunov and Alex Nicholson.
Cirkunov (10-2) impressed in his UFC debut in August, scoring his fifth straight first-round finish with a TKO over Daniel Jolly. Nicholson (6-1) earned a shot in the UFC after winning five straight in the regional circuit.
UFC 196 will be headlined by a rematch between Fabricio Werdum and Cain Velasquez for the heavyweight championship.
The second match-up announced by the promotion takes place 15 days later in Pittsburgh’s UFC Fight Night 82, with Oluwale Bamgbose looking for his first UFC win as he replaces injured Sam Alvey against Daniel Sarafian on Feb. 21.
Bamgbose (5-1) entered the Octagon for the first time in August, losing to Uriah Hall in the first round. TUF Brazil 1 alum Sarafian (9-5), who hasn’t competed since 2014, attempts to go 2-0 since returning to 185 pounds following a quick drop to welterweight in 2014.
Headlined by Donald Cerrone vs. Tim Means, UFC Fight Night 82 takes place at the Consol Energy Center.