SHANGHAI, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- UFC, the world's premier Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organization, announced its highly anticipated inaugural live event in the Chinese mainland will be headlined by one of the greatest MMA athletes of all time.
Brazil's Anderson "The Spider" Silva will face middleweight contender Kelvin Gastelum in what will be one of the most thrilling battles the Octagon has seen in Asia. UFC Fight Night Shanghai: Silva vs. Gastelum takes place at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, Shanghai on November 25 2017.
The longest reigning champion in UFC history, Silva (38-4-0, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil) is a superior breed of athlete, which makes his debut in China all the more special.
Known for making the impossible possible, Silva brings his 11 years of experience in the Octgaon to Shanghai where he will face No. 8-ranked middleweight Kelvin Gastelum (14-3-0, fighting out of Yuma, Arizona, US).
Silva has faced some of MMA's toughest athletes and has amassed 22 wins by knock out. This match up will test his skills as he brings his A game to Asia for the very first time.
Facing a legend of the sport, 25 year old Gastelum has already made a name for himself in the stacked middleweight division with victories over former UFC champions Vitor Belfort and Johny Hendricks. Having won three out of his last four bouts and with five previous first round finishes to his name, Gastelum will be looking to make a statement in the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
In the months leading up to the event, top UFC athletes will be on hand to meet and interact with fans in Shanghai and other cities. In August the UFC brought UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway to Shanghai to meet fans and lead a series of MMA seminars and in September the UFC will be hosting even more activities with athletes who will be participating at the live event in November.
Fans can also expect a packed schedule during fight week in late November, with appearances from guest fighters, community events and exclusive VIP Experiences.
