Australia’s Bec Rawlings has joined the growing list of Australians that are going to fight at the UFC Sydney card at Qudos Bank Arena on November 19.
Rawlings (7-6) will take on Scottish fighter Joanne Calderwood (11-3) in one of the UFC’s newest weight divisions 125lbs, a division which the Australian has long been looking for the UFC to introduce.
“There’s a lot of bigger girls who would love to have the 125 division and I’m one of them, but until then we’re stuck in the 115 division and busting our arses to make weight,” said Rawlings in an interview earlier this year.
The fight could prove pivotal in Rawlings’ UFC career, the Queensland native has lost her last two fights in the organisation in the 115lbs division to Americans Tecia Torres and Paige Van Zant.
Calderwood brings a superior 11-3 record, including a notable victory over Valerie Letourneau in June taking place in the 125lbs division.
However, the Scottish fighter is also on a two fight losing streak, with her latest loss coming to rising star in the 115lbs division Cynthia Calvillo via unanimous decision in July this year.
This fight is a big opportunity for the Australian. She is now in the weight division in which she feels she belongs, but she needs to take the opportunity, especially if she has aspirations of having a title run at the weight.
Calderwood is one of very few fighters in the UFC to have a flyweight fight under her belt in the organisation and she’ll need to use all of that experience in front of what is sure to be a very parochial crowd supporting the Australian.
Either way, this bout is a fascinating addition to a UFC Sydney card that is quickly taking shape for the November date.
The UFC announced the matchup via the Brisbane Times.
Newly signed Rob Wilkinson to face Siyar Bahadurzada at UFC Fight Night 115
