UFC Fight Night 66 Gets Gegard Mousasi vs. Costas Philippou
On the heels of knockout wins in their most recent outings, middleweight contenders Gegard Mousasi and Costas Philippou have been booked to meet at UFC Fight Night 66 in May 16.
UFC.com announced the matchup, along with a welterweight bout between Neil Magny and Hyun Gyu Lim.
In January, Mousasi rebounded from a loss to Ronaldo Souza by stopping Dan Henderson with strikes. With the win, he joined Vitor Belfort as one of only two fighters to knock out Henderson. So, while a win over Henderson doesn't mean what it once did, Mousasi still impressed by finishing the former Pride FC champion.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Forced to withdraw from a scheduled January bout against Uriah Hall, Philippou has not stepped into the Octagon since last May. He did look excellent in his most recent appearance, though, as he broke a two-bout losing streak with a knockout win over Lorenz Larkin.
With Mousasi ranked No. 7 and Philippou No. 12 in the UFC middleweight division, this will be a pivotal matchup for both competitors. Mousasi could fall out of the Top 10 with a loss, while Philippou has a chance to enter the Top 10 with an upset win.
Philippou's boxing background is what makes this matchup particularly intriguing. Not many opponents are willing to stand with Mousasi, but Philippou will likely be planning on doing so, which could make an entertaining stand-up bout for the fans.
Headlined by a blockbuster bout between Frankie Edgar and Urijah Faber, UFC Fight Night 66 will take place May 16 in Pasay City, Philippines. It's not official, but Mousasi and Philippou would appear to be shaping up as the co-main event on the card.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
