BEN SOSOLI VS. DUSTIN JOYNSON
Highly ranked in their respective countries, these heavyweight hopefuls are looking to turn success at home into victory in Vegas and a chance to compete inside the Octagon later this year.
Sosoli was the first pick (second overall) of Kelvin Gastelum on Season 28 of The Ultimate Fighter, entering the competition with a 6-2 record and sporting three straight stoppage victories. The 29-year-old, who trains in Melbourne under Daniel Kelly, was bounced in the quarterfinals by eventual winner Juan Espino, but has since returned to action, collecting a stoppage win over Kelvin Fitial in March.
The final member of the “Unbeaten 5” competing on Tuesday night, Joynson carries a 5-0 record into his clash with Sosoli on Tuesday. Representing Victoria, British Columbia’s Zugec Ultimate Martial Arts (ZUMA), which produced UFC vets Sarah Kaufman and Ryan Janes, the towering six-foot-six talent earned stoppages in each of his first four victories before going the distance to claim the vacant Battlefield Fight League heavyweight title in his most recent outing.
Dana White is always on the lookout for new talent in the big boy ranks, so don’t be surprised if the winner of this one lands themselves a place on the roster and a date in the Octagon before 2019 is out.
