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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Fresh off an exciting UFC debut last month at UFC Fight Night 64, Scotland's Stevie Ray will return home this July to take on Brazil's Leonardo Mafra at UFC Fight Night 72 in Glasgow.
The UFC announced the fight on Wednesday.
Ray took Marcin Bandel by TKO in the second round of their fight last month in Poland, earning his 17th career win. The 25-year-old has finished opponents in 13 of those wins, and he's excited to get in front of a home country crowd on July 18.
"Fans should expect a really passionate crowd in Glasgow," he said in a press release announcing the fight. "I know the fans will be getting right behind me, so it's going to be a loud and crazy atmosphere. But I'm mentally very strong and when I get in to the Octagon it'll just be me versus him. I'll need to block the crowd out – it's all about controlling your emotions and staying relaxed and focused."
Mafra, who got his first fight in the UFC out of the first season of "The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil," returned to the organization last July, losing to Rick Story in a welterweight bout. He bounced back from that in March, defeating Cain Carrizosa by decision at UFC Fight Night 62.
The UFC's debut event in Glasgow does not yet have a headliner, but the entire card is expected to air live on UFC Fight Pass.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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