The UFC continues to load up it’s upcoming ESPN premiere.
Originally scheduled to compete at UFC 233 before that event was canceled, Kron Gracie will now make his first walk to the Octagon on Feb. 17 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, where he will take on previously reported opponent Alex Caceres, per a UFC announcement.
The change was first reported by ESPN.
Gracie, the son of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and MMA legend Rickson Gracie, will be the first Gracie to step into the Octagon since Roger Gracie in 2013. He is 4-0 as a professional fighter, with his last bout taking place on Dec. 31, 2016 for the Rizin Fighting Federation. At that show, he defeatedTatsuya Kawajiri by second-round submission. In grappling competition, Gracie holds submission wins over names like Shinya Aoki, Yan Cabral, and Garry Tonon.
On the other side, Caceres (14-11, 1 NC) will be making his 20th appearance for the UFC. The 30-year-old is 9-9 with one no contest inside the Octagon and has won two of his last three bouts.
Also moved to the UFC’s ESPN debut is a welterweight contest between Vicente Luque and Bryan Barberena. First reported by MMA DNA as being part of the Feb. 2 show in Fortaleza, it appears that the two will have to wait a couple more weeks before locking horns.
Luque (14-6-1) has emerged as one of the deadliest finishers at 170 pounds, winning seven of his last eight fights all by knockout or submission. Meanwhile, Barberena (14-5) has alternated wins and losses in his last five fights, most recently defeating Jake Ellenberger via first-round TKO atUFC Lincoln in August.
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