Local Fighters Pack Card For UFC Long Island Debut

The UFC will be making its Long Island debut in July with a main event featuring Baldwin's own Chris Weidman facing off against Kelvin Gastelum. The fight will be broadcast live on Fox.

The match is set for July 22, but tickets go on sale Friday. It will be the first time that UFC has come to Long Island (the sport was only legalized in New York last year).

In the main event, Weidman (13-3), a Baldwin native and the No. 6-ranked fighter in the league, faces off against Gastelum (14-2). Weidman, the former champion, hopes to earn his way back into title contention by adding another finish to an already impressive resume that includes six knockouts and three submission victories, six of those coming in the first round. Gastelum, winner of The Ultimate Fighter season 17, is undefeated since moving up to middleweight, and is looking for the biggest victory of his career, as the winner of this bout could be in title contention in a loaded 185-pound division.

Weidman isn't the only Long Island talent that's coming out for this introductory event. No. 10-ranked featherweight Dennis Bermudez (17-6), from Lindenhurst, also looks to impress local fans against No. 12 Darren Elkins (23-5). Bermudez gets a home bout for the first time in his six-year UFC career and will undoubtedly be looking to put on a show. Hoping to play spoiler, Elkins returns to the Octagon for the first time since his potential Comeback of the Year performance against Mirsad Bektic at UFC 209.

Adding to the local fights is a light heavyweight matchup between No. 11 Patrick Cummins (9-4) and No. 13 Gian Villante (15-7), a Bellmore resident and Levittown native. Like Weidman, Cummins starred at the collegiate level, earning NCAA Div. I All-American honors twice. Since transitioning to MMA, he has become a well-rounded and versatile competitor who possesses the ability to win a fight wherever it goes. Villante, known for his power, has 10 knockouts in 15 career wins. Growing up in nearby Levittown, he looks to gain serious momentum with a great showing against his opponent.

And rounding out the Long Island matches is Islip resident Chris Wade, who will be meeting New Jersey's Frankie Perez (10-3) in the Octagon.

Additional bouts include:

• A bantamweight showdown between No. 5 Jimmie Rivera (20-1-0, fighting out of Ramsey, N.J.) and No. 9 ranked Thomas Almeida (21-1-0, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil).
• Fast rising and undefeated prospect Shane Burgos (9-0, fighting out of Monroe, N.Y.) will fight in New York for the third time in as many UFC bouts when he faces submission ace Godofredo Pepey (14-4, fighting out of Fortaleza, Brazil) at 145 pounds.
• No. 12 heavyweight Timothy Johnson (11-3, Fargo, N.D.) looks to continue his climb up the rankings when he squares off against Junior Albini (13-2, fighting out of Paranagua, Brazil).
• Dynamic finisher Damian Grabowski (20-4, fighting out of Opole, Poland) clashes with knockout artist Christian Colombo (8-2-1, fighting out of Copenhagen, Denmark) in a heavyweight duel.

Tickets for the UFC Fight Night go on sale Friday, June 2 at 10 a.m. and are priced at $307, $182, $107, $82 and $57, not including applicable service charges and handling fees. Ticket sales are limited to eight per person. Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at (800) 745-3000.

Photo: Getty Images/Getty Images Sports/Michael Reaves