Rotterdam's UFC Fight "Morning / Afternoon" 87 lineup finalized

10:30 a.m. ET start time




The 13-bout lineup is set for the upcoming UFC Fight Night 87 event, which provides a Sunday matinee for North American fight fans.

UFC Fight Night 87 takes place May 8 at Ahoy Rotterdam in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The card airs on FOX Sports 1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass.

In the headliner of the event, which marks the UFC’s Dutch debut, former heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski (25-11 MMA, 14-5 UFC) takes on former Strikeforce titleholder Alistair Overeem (40-14-1 MMA, 5-3 UFC). Arlovski is currently No. 5 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA heavyweight rankings, and Overeem is No. 7.

In the heavyweight co-headliner, local fighter Stefan Struve (26-8 MMA, 10-6 UFC) meets Antonio Silva (19-8-1 MMA, 3-6 UFC).

Rounding out the main card are No. 15 welterweight Albert Tumenov (17-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) vs. Gunnar Nelson (14-2-1 MMA, 5-2 UFC), women’s bantamweights Germaine de Randamie (5-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) vs. Anna Elmose (3-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC), light heavyweights Francimar Barroso (18-4 MMA, 2-1 UFC) vs. Nikita Krylov (19-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC), and No. 8 strawweight Karolina Kowalkiewicz (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) vs. Heather Jo Clark (7-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC).

Closing the FOX Sports 1 prelims is a lightweight bout between Rustam Khabilov (19-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) vs. Chris Wade (11-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC), and in the featured UFC Fight Pass-streamed prelim, No. 6 flyweight Kyoji Horiguchi (16-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) meets Neil Seery (16-11 MMA, 3-2 UFC).



The fulL UFC Fight Night 87 lineup includes:


MAIN CARD (FOX Sports 1, 2 p.m. ET)

• Andrei Arlovski vs. Alistair Overeem
• Antonio Silva vs. Stefan Struve
• Gunnar Nelson vs. Albert Tumenov
• Anna Elmose vs. Germaine de Randamie
• Francimar Barroso vs. Nikita Krylov
• Heather Jo Clark vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz

PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX Sports 1, noon ET)

• Rustam Khabilov vs. Chris Wade
• Magnus Cedenblad vs. Garreth McLellan
• Nick Hein vs. Jon Tuck
• Yan Cabral vs. Reza Madadi

PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass, 10:30 a.m. ET)

• Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Neil Seery
• Leon Edwards vs. Dominic Waters
• Willie Gates vs. Ulka Sasaki

UFC Fight Night 87 Play
from MMA Odds Breaker



Alistair Overeem (40-14-1 NC MMA, 5-3 UFC) is coming off an impressive second round TKO win over former UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior “Cigano” Dos Santos and currently enjoys a three fight winning streak inside the Octagon, including another TKO of Stefan “The Skyscraper” Struve and a unanimous decision over Roy “Big Country” Nelson. He appears to have turned things arround since switching from the Blackzilians camp in Boca Raton, FL to Jackson-Wink MMA in Albuqurque, NM. Most notably, his fight IQ and conditioning have improved; one, in my opinion, being a benefit of having Greg Jackson in his corner, and the other for training in high-altitude Albuqurque. That said, it is worth noting that Jackson will not be in his corner in this bout and will instead be cornering his opponent Andrei Arlovski, as they are training partners and Arlovski has seniority. As for his cardio, I think Overeem will have enough gas in the tank to go a full five rounds against Arlovski. “The Reem” is an excellent striker who comes from a Muay Thai background and has developed a solid grappling game, as well. He is always a knockout threat, but is also capable of simply outpointing his opponents with his superior technical striking.


Andrei Arlovski (25-11-1 NC MMA, 14-5 UFC) last saw action at UFC 195 four months ago, where he suffered a first round knockout at the hands of current number one contender Stipe Miocic. The unfortunate defeat snapped a six fight winning streak for the former UFC Heavyweight Champion, which included four in the UFC over Brendan Schaub, Antonio Silva, Travis Browne and Frank Mir. Following the sour loss, he will be looking to get back into the win column against current training partner Alistair Overeem. “The Pitbull” is a true veteran of the sport and a very well-rounded mixed martial artist who holds his own in every facet of the sport. He is solid on the feet and packs power in his hands, owning an impressive 17 of 25 professional mixed martial arts career victories by way of knockout. Arlovski’s defensive grappling is good; he has a solid base and is hard to take down. Offensively, the Belarusian’s grappling is on-point, too, as he comes from a Sambo background, owning multiple titles in the sport. Training in high-altitude out of Jackson-Winkle MMA in Albuquerque, NM, Arlovski has excellent cardio and should be ready to go all 25-minutes against Overeem, if necessary.


Gabe’s Call: Overeem by Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)


Gabe’s Thoughts: I think there’s a good chance Overeem technically outstrikes Arlovski over the course of five rounds to pick up a unanimous decision win on the judges’ scorecards. I think “The Reem” should be a 3-to-1 betting favorite heading into this contest, so I believe there is value to be had with him at his current offering price of -225. I think there’s also value on the Total of Over 1.5 rounds at +100.



Gabe’s Recommended Plays: 1) Overeem (-225) and Barroso/Krylov Over 1.5 rounds (-120) +164 for 3.1u to win 5.1u, and 2) Overeem/Arlovski Over 1.5 rounds (+100) 3u to win 3u

Nick Hein injured, UFC seeks replacement opponent for Jon Tuck



A training injury has forced German lightweight Nick Hein out of this weekend’s UFC Fight Night 87 event, and UFC officials are currently seeking a replacement opponent for Jon Tuck.

FYI ...


They are using the Big octagon for this event

Game on ... Everybody made weight ...




FOX Sports 1 Main Event:
265 lbs.: Alistair Overeem (244) vs. Andrei Arlovski (248)

FOX Sports 1 Co-Main Event:

265 lbs.: Stefan Struve (265) vs. Antonio Silva (266)



FOX Sports 1 Main Card:

170 lbs.: Gunnar Nelson (170) vs. Albert Tumenov (170)
135 lbs.: Anna Elmose (135) vs. Germaine de Randamie (135)
205 lbs.: Francimar Barroso (204) vs. Nikita Krylov (205)
135 lbs.: Heather Jo Clark (116) vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz (115)



FOX Sports 1 Under Card:


155 lbs.: Rustam Khabilov (155) vs. Chris Wade (155)
155 lbs.: Magnus Cedenblad (185) vs. Garreth McLellan (184)
155 lbs.: Josh Emmett (156) vs. Jon Tuck (156)
155 lbs.: Yan Cabral (156) vs. Reza Madadi (155)



UFC Fight Pass Undercard:


125 lbs.: Kyoji Horiguchi (125) vs. Neil Seery (126)
170 lbs.: Leon Edwards (169.5) vs. Dominic Waters (170)
125 lbs.: Willie Gates (125) vs. Ulka Sasaki (125)

Ulka Sasaki def. Willie Gates via submission (rear-naked choke) - Round 2, 3:30

Leon Edwards def. Dominic Waters by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Edwards did not speak to the media after his win.

He's being transported to the hospital for a fractured orbital

Kyoji Horiguchi def. Neil Seery by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)

With Neil Seery's loss, Irish fighters remain winless in the UFC in 2016.


Conor McGregor beating Aldo at UFC 194 was last win.

Reza Madadi def. Yan Cabral via TKO (punches) - Round 3, 1:56

Josh Emmett's finger is FUCT


Emmett’s bone is sticking out of his finger .......


DAMN

Josh Emmett def. Jon Tuck via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Magnus Cedenblad def. Garreth McLellan via TKO (kick and punches) - Round 2, 0:47



Cedenblad's four-fight UFC winning streak at middleweight is tied for 3rd longest in the division behind Romero (seven) & Rockhold (five).

Rustam Khabilov def. Chris Wade by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)



IMO no way in hell did Khabilov win all 3 rounds ... That 30-27 is awful judging