UFC 252


UFC 252: Miocic vs. Cormier 3 is an upcoming mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that will take place on August 15, 2020 at the UFC APEX facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.

Background

The promotion was initially targeting another event to take place on this date at 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. However, the organization confirmed in June that the Dublin card was indefinitely postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A UFC Heavyweight Championship trilogy between current two-time champion Stipe Miocic and former champion Daniel Cormier is expected to serve as the event headliner. The pairing first met at UFC 226 on July 7, 2018 where Cormier, as the light heavyweight champion, returned to heavyweight and captured the title by knocking Miocic out in the first round. Their second meeting took place at UFC 241 on August 17, 2019 where Miocic regained the belt and got his revenge via fourth-round knockout.
A bantamweight bout between Pedro Munhoz and former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar was briefly linked to UFC 251. However, promotion officials elected to schedule the pairing four days later for. On July 6, it was announced that the bout between Munhoz and Edgar was scrapped due to Munhoz testing positive for COVID-19. They were later rescheduled for this event. In turn, promotion officials elected to move the pairing again, which is now expected to take place the following week at UFC Fight Night 175.
A light heavyweight rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Ion Cuțelaba is expected to take place at this event. The pairing first met at, where Ankalaev won via controversial knockout. The bout was originally expected to take place at UFC 249, on its original April 18 date. However, Ankalaev was forced to pull out of the event due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rogério Bontorin was expected to face promotional newcomer Manel Kape at the event. However, Bontorin pulled out of the fight on July 22 due to an ankle injury. In turn, Kape announced his debut would be postponed and that he would not appear on the card either, also due to an ankle injury.

Fight card

Announced bouts