UFC Announces Title Fight, GSP Update, Will Chris Weidman Be Ready By UFC 175?

By Dana Becker

- UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson will defend his title close to home, as he takes on Ali Bagautinov in the main event of UFC 174. The card is set for Vancouver on June 14 inside the Rogers Arena.

Johnson, a Washington state native, is coming off a knockout victory over Joseph Benavidez. He has successfully defended his title three times, including decisions over John Dodson and John Moraga. Johnson (19-2-1) won the title in a tournament finale over Benavidez, which you can watch again in the video above.

Bagautinov (13-2) has been impressive since debuting with the UFC last year, finishing Marcos Vinicius and scoring decisions over Tim Elliott and John Lineker.

News of the fight agreement was first reported by SportsNet. The card now features Johnson-Bagautinov, Rory MacDonald-Tyron Woodley, Daniel Sarafina-Kiichi Kunimoto, Mike Easton-Yves Jabouin and Roland Delorme-Michinori Tanaka.

- Chris Weidman, the reigning UFC middleweight champion, remains locked in for a July return at UFC 175 to take on Lyoto Machida. And while some are concerned over whether or not "The All-American" can make it back after double knee surgery, Weidman is not.

"I just talked to Chris Weidman and he said he's doing great, already lifting and on the bike," reported Ariel Helwani during UFC Tonight Wednesday, "and he'd definitely be ready for July 5."

Weidman underwent operations on both of his knees last week, having his ligaments repaired. He was scheduled to face Machida in May, but officials pushed the title fight back to the Fourth of July weekend card that coincides with International Fight Week.

- Georges St-Pierre successfully underwent surgery to repair his torn ACL, suffered in training recently. The former UFC welterweight champion announced his plans to leave MMA for the time being last December.

"Just got out of the hospital," GSP posted. "Surgery was a success. Road to Recovery has started again."

While champion in 2011, St-Pierre suffered damage to his right knee. This time, he tore the left ACL while in training. The Canadian has remained active in MMA, helping work with his Tristar Gym teammates in Canada.

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