UFC: Gokhan Saki returns at UFC 226,reportedly targeted to face Paul Craig

UFC Light Heavyweight and Kickboxing legend Gokhan Saki (1-1 MMA,1-0 in the UFC) reportedly to return at UFC 226 on July 7,2018 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas,Nevada.Fox Sports Netherlands announced that Saki will make his return at UFC 226.

According to some sources,he is slated to fight Scotland’s Paul ‘Beard Jew’ Craig (10-2 MMA,2-2 in the UFC).(via Twitter):

Gokhan Saki will compete at UFC 226 in July! https://t.co/QnTsgjboai
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) March 28, 2018

A tenner says the UFC try to feed Paul Craig to Gokhan Saki.
— Jack Slack (@JackSlackMMA) March 29, 2018

Gokhan Saki first took the MMA community by storm when he signed to fight at the UFC’s Light heavyweight division in May 2017.MMA fans were not only excited because of Saki’s decorated kickboxing but also due to the steepness of the UFC’s Lightweight division and Saki could add some value to it.Saki made his MMA debut back in 2004,he lost that fight via TKO.The fans however expected better performances from the Dutch-Turkish Kickboxer due to the leaps and bounces he made in his Kickboxing career.

Saki is an accomplished decorated Kickboxer.Saki was the former GLORY Light heavyweight champion.Saki has an incredible kickboxing record of 83-12-1.He has faced Kickboxing legends namely former Showtime and Glory champion in Tyrone Spong,current Glory Heavyweights champion Rico Verhoeven,Former K-1 and Showtime heavyweight champion Badr Hari,Melvin Manhoef,etc.He was also the 2006 K-1 Grand Prix runner up and 2008 and 2010 Drand Prix second runner up.

Saki’s last fought at his debut at UFC Fight Night 117 in Saitama,Japan against Brazilian Henrique Da Silva.Da Silva was coming off of a three fight losing streak but had good proficiency in Jiu Jitsu,an area wherein Saki might have troubles,being a kickboxer.Saki started well however showed signs of fatigue in the middle of round.However at the end of the first round Saki landed a vicious left hook to knockout Da Silva to earn himself his first victory and a 50,000 USD bonus.Silva was then slated to fight Khalil Rountree Jr at UFC 219 in December. Saki pulled out off the fight due to knee injury.

Paul Craig on the other hand has been in a roller coaster ride.Craig in his last fight faced Russian Magomed Ankalaev.Ankalaev was dominating the first until the last second of the entire fight where Craig managed to lock in a triangle choke to secure a win at 4:59 of the last round.This is the latest submission ever in the UFC History.

UFC 226 will feature an super fight between UFC Heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic and UFC Light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier for the heavyweight title.