Both Yamamoto and Page are coming off of losses in their UFC debuts, and each needs a big win in order to ensure that they remain on the promotion’s roster. The pair have 29 stoppage victories between them and are regarded as two of the most aggressive bantamweight fighters in the sport.
Yamamoto (18-4-0, 1 NC) has encountered tough times in recent years, as injury woes have resulted in periods of inactivity and upset losses to the likes of Bellator champion Joe Warren and former Sengoku titleholder Masanori Kanehara. The knockout artist and standout wrestler has dropped three of his last four fights, but managed to pick up a vicious first-round knockout win over Federico “Kiko” Lopez last May. In his long-awaited UFC debut in February, Yamamoto dropped a Unanimous Decision to rising star Demetrious Johnson.
Page (15-6-0) brought a four-fight winning streak into his WEC debut on February 13, 2008 and picked up a big victory over Scott Jorgensen. The win set up a fight with future WEC champion Brian Bowles, but Page was defeated by first-round guillotine choke. Since then, Page has gone 2-2, with losses to Demetrious Johnson and Bowles in a rematch; losing again by guillotine choke at exactly the same time as in the first bout. With back-to-back losses on his record, Page needs a big win to turn things around, and an upset of Yamamoto would ensure his safety from roster cuts.
While not yet officially announced, UFC 135 is expected to take place on September 24th at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. The targeted event will likely be headlined by a UFC Light Heavyweight Championship bout between Jon “Bones” Jones and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Welterweights Diego “The Dream” Sanchez and Matt Hughes will also square off on the card.
Source: mmarising.com
