Three new fights have been announced for The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale as the matchups are James Krause vs. Ross Pearson, Scott Askham vs. Anthony Smith and Li Jingliang vs. Anton Zafir.
The fight bookings were announced during last night’s episode of UFC Tonight on FS1.
The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale will take place on July 8 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be headlined by a title fight as Joanna Jedrzejczyk defends the women’s strawweight title against Claudia Gadelha.
Krause (23-7) has gone 4-3 since entering the UFC in 2013 and enters this fight following back to back victories. His most recent victory came in February at UFC Fight Night 83 as he defeated Shane Campbell by decision. Pearson (19-10, 1NC) is coming off a split decision win at UFC Fight Night 85 against Chad Laprise. He has alternated wins and losses in his last eight fights and his last four fights have gone the distance.
Askham (14-2) made his UFC debut in 2014 and he has gone 2-2 in the promotion. He is coming off a knockout victory against Chris Dempsey at UFC Fight Night 84 and both of his wins in the UFC have come by knockout. Smith (25-11) returned to the UFC earlier this year and scored a decision victory against Leonardo Augusto Leleco at UFC Fight Night 83. He is currently on an eight fight winning streak and six of those wins have come by stoppage.
Jingliang (10-4) was submitted by Keita Nakamura at UFC Fight Night 75 in his last fight and he has gone 2-2 in the promotion. Seven of his ten career victories have come by stoppage and five of those victories have come by submission. Zafir (7-2) lost his UFC debut in November against James Moontasri and the defeat snapped a five fight winning streak. Six of his seven wins have come by finish and three of those wins have come in the opening round.
The current fight card for The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale is below.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk (11-0) vs. Claudia Gadelha (13-1)
TBA vs. TBA – TUF 23 light heavyweight tournament final
TBA vs. TBA – TUF 23 women’s strawweight tournament final
James Krause (23-7) vs. Ross Pearson (19-10, 1NC)
Scott Askham (14-2) vs. Anthony Smith (25-11)
Li Jingliang (10-4) vs. Anton Zafir (7-2)