UFC Liverpool has another addition with ‘Mr. Finland’ Makwan Amirkhani returning from a lengthy layoff to face American Jason Knight.
American featherweight Jason Knight has been booked into a scrap with Makwan Amirkhani, otherwise known as ‘Mr. Finland,’ in Liverpool, England. The UFC confirmed the news following a report by Viaplay Fighting. The event takes place in May, with Darren Till set to headline, though no opponent has been officially announced for the planned main event.
Knight (20–4) will be looking to snap a two-fight losing streak in Liverpool later this Spring. The Mississippi native has lost two straight, starting with a TKO defeat at the hands of Ricardo Lamas at UFC 214 last May. That was followed by a unanimous decision loss to Gabriel Benítez at UFC Fresno in December. Prior to the two-fight skid, Knight had won four straight in the UFC, including three bonuses: a Fight of the Night, and two Performance of the Night bonuses.
For Makwan Amirkhani (13–3), UFC Liverpool marks a chance to bounce back from the first loss of his UFC career. Amirkhani won three straight to start off his run in the promotion, but was handed a setback against Arnold Allen at UFC Fight Night 107 last March.
Prior to the Allen fight, Amirkhani stated that he would not fight again unless the UFC visited Finland. “The only time I will fight after this fight, the only fight that I will take, is if the UFC comes to Finland,” he told MMA Junkie at the time. While Liverpool isn’t anywhere near Finland, the featherweight has been out over a year, making a return long overdue.
UFC Liverpool, properly UFC Fight Night 130, takes place May 27 at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England.
