Gunnar tops UFC at the SSE
GUNNAR NELSON will face Argentine Santiago Ponzinibbio in the main event when the UFC returns to Glasgow this summer Record Sport can reveal.
The Icelandic star, the No.9 ranked fighter in the welterweight division, will lead a stellar card at the SSE Hydro on Sunday, July 16.
And he’ll be joined by Scotland’s Joanne Calderwood, who is making her long-awaited return to action against the highly-rated, undefeated Cynthia Calvillo.
Nelson (16-2-1) has gained a huge fan following thanks to his world-class grappling skills and ability to finish fights.
The submission specialist is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under the legendary Renzo Gracie and boasts four Performance of the Night awards from only nine appearances inside the Octagon.
Ponzinibbio (24-3), ranked 13th in the division, is an Ultimate Fighter: Brazil finalist who will be looking to add to his four-fight win streak against a top opponent.
Calderwood won Fight of the Night in the last event in her homeland back in 2015 – Fight Night 72 – beating Cortney Chase by unanimous decision.
She stepped up to flyweight and won her first bout by TKO against Valerie Letourneau in Ottawa a year later.
But her main card debut ended in disappointment when, dropping back down a weight class, she was tapped out by Jessica Andrade at UFC 203 last September.
Bidding to bounce back, the 11-2 JoJo faces a tough test against the 5-0 Californian.
She said: “I’m champing at the bit. Cynthia is a great, well rounded fighter. She brings it and it’s going to make an exciting fight.
“I’m going in there to bring my best game. Let’s see what she brings to the chess table.”
And she’s calling on the Tartan Army to repeat the phenomenal backing they gave her last time.
She said: “I’ll have the same feeling I did the first time I fought in Glasgow two years ago. It still sends chills up my spine.
“The crowd got me through that fight. I felt everyone was behind me and didn’t want it to end.
“I don’t think it was one of my best performances. I got rocked and threw a ‘maddie.’ I’ll show one of my best performances.”
● Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT: GLASGOW go on sale on Friday, June 2 at 10am via Ticketmaster.