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Despite a change in the main event, UFC Fight Night 68 will still be a card worth checking out when it is all said and done. The event will be headlined by a pivotal middleweight division clash as Dan Henderson faces Tim Boetsch. Also, Matt Mitrione faces Ben Rothwell in a heavyweight division clash and hometown boy Dustin Poirier gets a main card spot.
Main Card
Main Event
UFC Middleweight Division Fight
Tim “The Barbarian†Boetsch (18-8-0) vs. Dan “Hendo†Henderson (30-13-0)
Boetsch has rotated wins and losses in his last five UFC appearances, with his last fight being a loss to Thales Leites at UFC 183. Henderson has only won just one of his last six fights under the UFC banner, with that lone win coming over Mauricio Rua at UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Henderson II. Boetsch has amassed a record of 6-4-0 as a middleweight in the UFC, he previously competed at light heavyweight in the promotion. Henderson has only won two bouts since returning to the UFC in 2011, with both of those wins coming over Mauricio Rua. Henderson’s only true weapon at this point is his right hand, Boetsch has a little more left in his tank and it will be his wrestling game that notches him a decision here.
Co-Main Event
UFC Heavyweight Division Fight
Matt “Meathead†Mitrione (9-3-0) vs. Ben Rothwell (34-9-0)
Mitrione will enter the fight riding a three fight winning streak, most notably defeating Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC On Fox 13. Rothwell has won three of his last four under the UFC banner, last defeating Alistair Overeem at UFC Fight Night: Jacare vs. Souza II. Mitrione has not left the first round in his last six UFC appearances, a stretch that has lasted almost three years. Rothwell has only competed previously against one other TUF alumni, which was a win over Brendan Schaub at UFC 145. Mitrione is one of the better heavyweights from an athletic perspective, Mitrione catches Rothwell early in the first to get another first round finish.
UFC Lightweight Division Fight
Yancy “The Kid†Medeiros (11-2-0-1NC) vs. Dustin “The Diamond†Poirier (17-4-0)
Medeiros enters the fight riding a two fight winning streak, last defeating Joe Proctor at the UFC Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale. Poirier has been undefeated since moving to the lightweight division, he held a record of 7-3-0 as a featherweight in the UFC. Poirier is the better-rounded fighter when compared to Medeiros, Poirier gets a first round submission win in this one.
UFC Featherweight Division Fight
Brian “T-City†Ortega (8-0-0-1NC) vs. Thiago Tavares (19-5-1)
Ortega made his UFC debut in auspicious fashion, which was a no contest against Mike De La Torre at UFC On Fox 12. Tavares has been undefeated since dropping to featherweight in the UFC, defeating both Justin Salas and Robbie Peralta. Tavares has been looking like the Tavares of old since moving to featherweight, Tavares gets another first round submission win here.
UFC Bantamweight Division Fight
Anthony “El Toro†Birchak (11-2-0) vs. Joe “One Bad Mofo†Soto (15-3-0)
Birchak is current winless under the UFC banner, having dropped a fight to Ian Entwistle at UFC On Fox 13. Soto is also winless in UFC competition, but he is a former Bellator MMA and Tachi Palace Fights Bantamweight Champion. Soto has a wealth of experience heading into his sophomore UFC effort, Soto out strikes Birchak to get a decision.
UFC Bantamweight Division Fight
Alex “Bruce Leeroy†Caceres (10-7-0-1NC) vs. Francisco “Cisco†Rivera (10-4-0-1NC)
Caceres enters the fight riding a two fight losing streak and he has not achieved a victory in just over a full year. Rivera is coming off of a controversial loss to Urijah Faber, where he was accidentally poked in the eye before getting submitted. Rivera has amazing power for a bantamweight fighter and Caceres has weak defense, Rivera gets a second round finish.
Preliminary Card
Shawn Jordan over Derrick Lewis
Brian Ebersole over Omari Akhmedov
Chris Wade over Christos Giagos
Joe Proctor over Justin Edwards
Jake Collier over Richard Abreu
Jose Quinonez over Leonardo Morales
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