Breaking news: Summer will be over before you know it.
Want a fun way to count down the return to autumn? Keep track of the UFC cards through Sept. 21. Starting with Saturday's offering in Seattle, UFC hosts seven events over the next two months. Long gone are the days when fans were forced to wait that long for just one card.
With Seattle out of the way, UFC heads to Rio this coming weekend. Then Boston. Indianapolis. Milwaukee. Belo Horizonte, Brazil. And finally, Toronto, where Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson are set to tangle. The light heavyweight title fight represents the last of four championship fights during this stretch.
We know all about the big contests that are on deck. Well, how about a few that look awesome but could easily get lost in the shuffle?
Alistair Overeem vs. Travis Browne. Top-10 ranked heavyweights with a lot to answer for. Overeem remains an enigma. Browne hasn't had a signature win yet.
Brad Pickett vs. Michael McDonald. I don't see how this fight won't deliver. Everything suggests that Pickett and McDonald will put on a terrific showcase of MMA.
Sara McMann vs. Sarah Kaufman. Kaufman is highly accomplished. McMann comes across like a beast of a fighter. Is Kaufman stout enough to stand up against the Olympic wrestler?
Erik Koch vs. Dustin Poirier. These young featherweights always seemed headed for a collision. Not many expected it would be under these circumstances. Each needs to rebound off a loss. Each needs a signature win. Their styles mesh nicely. Lots to like.
Joseph Benavidez vs. Jussier da Silva. The next No. 1 contender at 125 could emerge from this fight. Benavidez will be a sizable favorite, but don't discount "Formiga."
Pat Healy vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov. If you're not amped for his lightweight tilt, you don't like MMA. Healy has been a monster. So has Nurmagomedov. Two bulls going at it. This is my favorite non-title fight in the UFC until the leaves start to turn.
