UFC on FOX 25 lineup finalized with 'New York vs. the world' theme on 4-fight main card

With the UFC making its Long Island debut later this month, the promotion is leaning heavy on New York-based fighters on the evening’s main card.

UFC officials recently released the full broadcast plans for UFC on FOX 25, which takes place on July 22 at NYCB LIVE in Uniondale, N.Y. The evening’s four-fight main card airs on FOX following four preliminary bouts on the same network, as well as five early prelims on UFC Fight Pass.

In the night’s main event, New York native and former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman (13-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) “The Ultimate Fighter 17” winner Kelvin Gastelum (13-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC). It’s a must-win for Weidman, who after rattling off 13 straight victories to open his professional career has now dropped three consecutive fights via knockout.

In the co-feature, New York’s Dennis Bermudez (16-6 MMA, 9-4 UFC) faces a gritty Darren Elkins (22-5 MMA, 12-4 UFC) in a key featherweight contest. Elkins sits at No. 13 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA featherweight rankings, while Bermudez is an honorable mention.

The main card is rounded out with a light heavyweight matchup that sees New York’s Gian Villante (15-8 MMA, 5-5 UFC) face Patrick Cummins (9-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC), as well as New Jersey’s (OK, so we took a little liberty with the “New York vs. the world” thing) Jimmie Rivera (20-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC)in a fantastic bantamweight matchup with Thomas Almeida (21-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC).

The full UFC on FOX 25 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (FOX, 8 p.m. ET)

• Chris Weidman vs. Kelvin Gastelum
• Dennis Bermudez vs. Darren Elkins
• Patrick Cummins vs. Gian Villante
• Thomas Almeida vs. Jimmie Rivera

PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX, 6 p.m. ET)

• Lyman Good vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos
• Alessio Di Chirico vs. Rafael Natal
• Ryan LaFlare vs. Alex Oliveira
• Christian Colombo vs. Damian Grabowski

PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass, 4 p.m. ET)

• Kyle Bochniak vs. Jeremy Kennedy
• Brian Kelleher vs. Marlon Vera
• Junior Albini vs. Timothy Johnson
• Shane Burgos vs. Godofredo Pepey
• Frankie Perez vs. Chris Wade

For more on UFC on FOX 25, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.