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The heavyweights are up to bat again this week for the final opening round matchup, as Team Whittaker's Juan Espino takes on Ben Sosoli from Team Gastelum.
Sosoli came to the show as a native of New Zealand who now resides in Australia, and he previously spent his sporting days playing rugby. Sosoli is best known for his heavy hands, as he's earned five of his six wins by knockout, and he's never been finished during his career. He comes to the show with a 6-2 record, including three victories in a row.
Espino hails from the Canary Islands in Spain and he's one of the elder statesmen in the house at 38 years of age. Espino carries an 8-1 record in his career with six straight victories, including four finishes. Coming from a wrestling background, Espino is definitely better known for his ground acumen, where he's racked up five career submission wins.
With the final slot in the semifinal round up for grabs in the heavyweight division, Sosoli and Espino will do everything possible to get the job done in this marquee matchup between Team Whittaker and Team Gastelum.
Away from the fight this week there will also be some drama between Espino and Maurice Greene, who hails from Team Gastelum. The tension between these two heavyweights has already been felt in the past, as Greene has been one of the louder and more vocal fighters in the house while Espino has largely kept to himself. Greene earned a vicious first-round knockout in the opening fight of the season, so he's had a little bit of down time since competing and he has no problem getting under the skin of any of his future opponents.
This week will see Greene and Espino at odds just days before the Spanish heavyweight is about to step into the Octagon to do battle with another Team Gastelum fighter.