UFC heads to Phoenix for Jan. 15 Fight Night event

The UFC will return to Phoenix for the first time since December 2014 when UFC Fight Night 103 comes to ‘Arizona’s Urban Heart’ on Jan. 15.

The event, announced by Fox Sports Arizona, will take place at Phoenix’s Talking Stick Resort Arena and air on FS1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass.

Three bouts were announced for the event, including Cyril Asker (7-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) against Dmitry Smoliakov (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) at heavyweight; another heavyweight showdown between Damian Grabowski (20-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC) and Viktor Pesta (10-3 MMA, 1-3 UFC); and a light heavyweight bout between Joachim Christensen (13-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC) and Bojan Mihajlovic (10-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC).

Asker entered the UFC riding a five-fight winning streak but was knocked out by Jarred Cannonier at the 2:44 mark of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night 86 this past April. Smoliakov suffered a similar fate, bringing an undefeated record to the octagon before losing to Luis Henrique at UFC on FOX 20.

Pesta has a 1-3 record in the UFC after starting his career 9-0. He faces Grabowski who has lost back-to-back fights since making his UFC debut this past February. Both of Grabowski’s losses have come by stoppage, his most recent being a 14-second knockout loss to Anthony Hamilton at UFC 201.

Christensen and Mihajlovic join the parade of fighters on the card needing a win, both suffering losses in their most recent fights – which also served as their octagon debuts.

For more on UFC Fight Night 103, check out the UFC Rumors section of the event.