Philip De Fries
Unbeaten heavyweights added to first Fuel card
A pair of unbeaten heavyweight fighters will clash in Omaha, Neb., when the UFC makes its live card debut on Fuel TV.
Stipe Miocic and Philip De Fries have verbal agreements in place to meet at UFC on Fuel: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger on Feb. 15. The UFC announced the fight booking Wednesday afternoon.
Miocic (7-0, 1-0 UFC) won his UFC debut with a unanimous decision win over Joey Beltran at UFC 136 in October. The former collegiate wrestler and Golden Gloves boxing champ, who trains in Ohio with UFC veteran Forrest Petz, started his career with six straight stoppages – five knockouts and a submission from leg kicks – before going the distance for the first time in his UFC debut.
De Fries (8-0, 1 NC, 1-0 UFC) also had a streak of stoppages ended in his UFC debut. The Brit took Rob Broughton the distance at UFC 138 last month in England, winning a unanimous decision. Prior to that, all seven of De Fries’ wins came by submission. The fight in Omaha will be De Fries’ first outside of his native England.
The UFC’s first full card on Fuel TV under the seven-year broadcast deal with Fox will also be its first trip to Omaha since UFC Fight Night 15 in September 2008, a card headlined by Nate Diaz vs. Josh Neer. The card, which will take place at the CenturyLink Center, will be headlined by a welterweight bout between Diego Sanchez and Omaha native and resident Jake Ellenberger. Also on the main card, Stefan Struve meets Dave “Pee Wee” Herman.