UFC 76: Justin McCully vs. Christian Wellisch Now Official — UFCjunkie.com Update
Posted by UFC Junkie on August 10, 2007 at 8:38 am ET
Late last month, UFCjunkie.com (
UFC blog for UFC news, MMA news, UFC rumors, UFC gossip, fighter interviews and event previews and recaps - UFCjunkie.com) broke the news that Team Punishment’s Justin McCully (8-3-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) would make his return to the Octagon at UFC 76. Now, we have confirmation of his opponent: American Kickboxing Academy’s Christian Wellisch (7-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC).
McCully’s agent, Ken Pavia, confirmed that the fight is official and the contracts are signed.
Including UFCjunkie.com’s announcement of a likely Jeremy Stephens-Nate Mohr fight at UFC 76, the Sept. 22 fight card now looks complete.
McCully, a Brazilian Jiu-Jistu black belt, made the most of a golden opportunity to earn his ticket into the UFC. When Frank Mir was scratched from his scheduled fight with Antoni Hardonk back at UFC Fight Night 9, McCully quickly stepped in. He controlled the fight, neutralized Hardonk, and earned a unanimous-decision victory.
He’ll now take on Wellisch, who made his Octagon debut at UFC 62 and suffered a first-round knockout (via knee) to Cheick Kongo. He bounced back with a unanimous-decision win over Anthony Perosh at UFC 66 in December.
The McCully-Wellisch bout will take place on the night’s undercard.
UFC 76 takes place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. and airs on pay-per-view. Announced bouts include Chuck Liddell vs. Keith Jardine, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Forrest Griffin, and Diego Sanchez vs. Jon Fitch.
Jeremy Stephens vs. Nate Mohr Likely Set for UFC 76 — UFCjunkie.com Exclusive
Posted by UFC Junkie on August 9, 2007 at 11:50 am ET
Jeremy Stephens (9-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC), who was recently granted a temporary leave from the UFC and picked up a win in a smaller Iowa-based organization last month, will return to the Octagon at UFC 76, where he’ll take on Nate Mohr (8-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC), UFCjunkie.com (
UFC blog for UFC news, MMA news, UFC rumors, UFC gossip, fighter interviews and event previews and recaps - UFCjunkie.com) has learned.
A source close to Stephens told UFCjunkie.com that a contract hasn’t been signed, but the fight’s been offered and that he’s expected to take it.
On July 28 at Midwest Cage Championships 9, Stephens defeated Nick Walker (3-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) with a TKO victory at 4:45 of the first round. The event at 95KGGO Arena in Urbandale, Iowa.
At just 21 years old, Stephens, a MCC and Greensparks Full Contact Fighting veteran, is one of MMA’s and the Midwest’s youngest and most promising prospects.
He made a memorable but unsuccessful Octagon debut against Din Thomas at UFC 71. Stephens was controlled throughout most of the fight, but as the first round came to a close, Stephens — best known for the nickname “Lil’ Heathen” — launched a spirited assault that won over the Las Vegas crowd. The Des Moines Mixed Martial Arts Academy fighter began the second round with the same intensity but was eventually caught with an armbar submission by the more-experienced Thomas halfway through the round.
He’s now expected to face Mohr, who took the first fight of his MMA career on just 20 minutes’ notice. He began his early career with a 3-3 record but has since won five of his past six.
In his Octagon debut, Mohr suffered a first-round submission loss to Kurt Pellegrino at UFC Fight Night 9 but bounced back with a unanimous-decision victory over Luke Caudillo at UFC Fight Night 10 in June.
UFC 76, which takes place Sept. 22, will be held at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. Other bouts scheduled for UFC 76 include Chuck Liddell vs. Keith Jardine, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Forrest Griffin, and Diego Sanchez vs. Jon Fitch