Going to be a good one. Phil is getting a
lot of shit but I mean, its a sport and a business. You have to
look out for you first. Not mad at him. But we get to do it at MSG
on a banger card. I promise you we will show out.— Chris The Action Man Curtis (@Actionman513)
October 14, 2021
Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. Ultimate Fighting Championship newcomer
Chris
Curtis will be getting opportunity to take on Phil Hawes
after all. Officially added to the
UFC 268 bill on Nov. 6 in Madison Square Garden in New York
City, middleweight Hawes will lock horns with 2019 Dana White’s Contender Series victor Curtis.
Sources close to the situation have confirmed to Sherdog the
initial report by
MMA DNA on Thursday. The pairing was briefly booked at UFC
Fight Night 194 after Curtis stepped up on extremely short notice,
when Deron Winn
withdrew from the fight. Even though “The Action Man” weighed in at
184.5 pounds, Hawes
refused the unexpected opponent change, forcing the promotion
to call off the bout.
Hawes (11-2) is currently riding a seven-fight win streak,
including three inside the Octagon. In his latest clash, “Megatron”
defeated Kyle
Daukaus via unanimous decision at UFC on ESPN 24. Before that,
the Sanford MMA standout earned a majority decision over Nassourdine
Imavov at UFC Fight Night 185, and made his debut by punching
Jacob
Malkoun out in 18 seconds at UFC 254 in 2020.
Professional Fighters League alum Curtis (26-8)
is finally making his UFC debut. Curtis was not offered a contract
despite his hook kick knockout victory of Sean Lally on
the 2018 season of DWCS, and even considered retiring from the
sport shortly after. He reconsidered his decision in 2019 and
signed with PFL, where he ended with one victory and three defeats.
The Ohio native has won in his last five outings, including four
knockouts on his way back to the major leagues.
UFC 268 will go down at the Madison Square Garden in New York City.
In the main event, Kamaru
Usman will square off with Colby
Covington in a grudge rematch for the welterweight
championship. In the co-headliner, strawweight queen Rose
Namajunas puts her belt on the line against former titleholder
Weili
Zhang.
