The UFC will make its Kentucky debut with UFC on Versus 3 on March 3 at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, the promotion announced Thursday. The main and co-main events, respectively, will feature fringe top 10 UFC welterweights Diego Sanchez vs. Martin Kampmann and middleweight wrestlers Mark Munoz vs. C.B. Dollaway.
Sanchez (24-4) returned to welterweight at UFC 114 this year only to lose to prospect John Hathaway, seemingly eliminating any hope of a future title shot for himself. However, Sanchez bounced back in October with a dominant win over Paulo Thiago at UFC 121.
"I want to fight the toughest guys out there to prove to the UFC and the fans that I'm ready for another title shot," Sanchez said. "I want the opportunity to show everyone what I can do when I am training the right way and focused."
Kampmann (17-4), who defeated Jacob Volkmann and Thiago in 2010, was selected to welcome former Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields into the UFC. Although Kampmann suffered a loss to the No. 2 welterweight, the setback was a split decision and one in which Kampmann came out looking the better of the two.
"It's an honor being in the main event," said Kampmann, who trains out of Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. "I've never been to Kentucky before and I'm looking forward to beating up Diego Sanchez in Louisville and showing everybody what the UFC is all about."
Dollaway (11-2) is quietly riding a three-fight win streak over Jay Silva, Goran Reljic and Joe Doerksen. As a notable wrestler out of Arizona State University, he'll look to defend his school's honor against Munoz (9-2), who in November defeated former ASU coach and All-American Aaron Simpson at UFC 123.
Below is the current confirmed lineup.
Diego Sanchez vs. Martin Kampmann
Mark Munoz vs. C.B. Dollaway
Brian Bowles vs. Damacio Page
Alessio Sakara vs. Maiquel Falcao
Thiago Tavares vs. Shane Roller
Takeya Mizugaki vs. Francisco Rivera
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