Canadian welterweight Yohan (White Lion) Lainesse has been added to the high-profile UFC 279 fight card in Las Vegas next month.
The Montreal fighter, who turns 30 on Sunday, will face American Darian Weeks on the Sept. 10 card. Unbeaten Swede Khamzat (Borz) Chimaev (11-0-0) takes on American fan favourite Nate Diaz (20-13-0) in the main event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Chimaev, ranked third among welterweight contenders, has won five straight in the UFC since making his debut in the mixed martial arts promotion in July 2020. Diaz (20-13-0) lost to Britain's Leon (Rocky) Edwards last time out in June 2021.
Lainesse (8-1-0) lost his UFC debut in April to American (Gifted) Gabe Green, who survived an early onslaught to stop Lainesse in the second round. The Quebecer earned his UFC contract last November on Dana White's Contender Series by stopping previously unbeaten English fighter Justin Burlinson with a left hook to the chin.
Weeks (5-3-0) lost his first two UFC bouts, by unanimous decision to American Bryan (Bam Bam) Barbarena and Ireland's Ian (The Future) Garry.
The UFC 279 card also features Canadians (Mean) Hakeem Dawodu and Chad (The Monster) Anheliger.
Dawodu, a Calgary featherweight, meets American Julian (Juicy J) Erosa while Anheliger, a bantamweight who trains in Calgary but calls suburban Airdrie home, faces China's Heili (The Mongolian Knight) Alateng.
Dawodu (13-2-1) is coming off a unanimous decision victory June 4 over American Michael (The Lone Wolf) Trizano and has won six of his last seven UFC outings. He is 6-2-0 in the organization.
Anheliger (15-8-2) won his UFC debut by stopping American Jesse (Sui Generis) Strader in the third round in February. The Canadian won his UFC contract by virtue of a KO victory over Muin (Tajik) Gafurov of Tajikistan in Dana White's Contender Series last September.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 11, 2022
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
