Rising welterweight star Rory “Ares” MacDonald will compete in his native Canada for his next fight. The once-beaten British Columbian faces veteran Brian “Bad Boy” Ebersole at UFC 140, which is targeted for December 10th in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Verbal agreements are in place for the bout.
Also announced for the card today were a pair of bouts featuring two more Canadian prospects. Claude “The Prince” Patrick will face Rich “The Raging Bull” Attonito in a welterweight bout, while unbeaten Saskatchewan native Mitch Clarke takes on New Jersey’s John Cholish in lightweight action.
MacDonald (12-1-0) has rebounded with a pair of impressive victories after suffering his lone career defeat against final WEC champion Carlos Condit in a June 2010 bout that MacDonald was seven seconds away from winning. In Ebersole (58-14-1, 1 NC), he faces an experienced veteran who is currently in the midst of the most successful period of his career. Ebersole has won nine straight fights since losing to Bellator champ Hector Lombard three years ago, but will need to use his experience to try to neutralise MacDonald, who is regarded as one of the very best welterweight prospects in MMA.
Patrick (14-1-0) and Attonito (10-4-0) are both coming off of wins over Daniel “Ninja” Roberts in their most recent Octagon appearances. Patrick has won 13 straight fights dating back to a 2002 decision loss to former UFC competitor Drew “The Massacre” McFedries, while Attonito has posted wins in five of his last six fights. The duo have combined for 18 stoppage wins, but Patrick’s submission skills and solid chin could prove to be the difference against Attonito’s heavy hands.
Clarke (9-0-0) brings an unblemished record into his Octagon debut and has finished all but two of his career opponents. The submission specialist earned an April decision victory in his lone fight this year and will take a step up in competition for the bout with Cholish (7-1-0), who has not lost since his pro debut four years ago. Cholish will also make his UFC debut in the fight, but he has previously fought for Strikeforce and holds a win over WEC veteran Jameel “The Sergeant” Massouh.
UFC 140 is targeted for December 10th at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
(Photo Credit: Sherdog.com)