The Fight Nation Championship is set to host its upcoming event in a 2,000-year-old Roman arena in Croatia, featuring a featherweight title defense by Jordan Barton against UFC veteran Rony Jason.
Mixed martial artists are often hailed as the contemporary versions of gladiators, a comparison that the Fight Nation Championship (FNC) is embracing wholeheartedly. They are embodying this by staging their next event in the stunning Pula Arena, an iconic 2,000-year-old Roman arena located in Croatia. This isn’t the first time that the arena, which was constructed between 27 BC and AD 68 in a style reminiscent of the famed Rome Colosseum, has played host to an FNC event.
The upcoming event, scheduled for September 2, will feature Jordan Barton’s defense of the featherweight title. Barton’s opponent for the bout is UFC veteran Rony Jason. From 2021 to 2022, Barton had a mixed record under the Bellator banner, recording one win and two losses. However, he managed to dethrone Daniel Bazant in May through a swift knockout in the first round, securing the featherweight title in the process.
Rony Jason, on the other hand, paved his way to this title shot by defeating Filip Pejic. Back in 2012, Jason emerged as the first winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil by triumphing over Godofredo Pepey in the finals. He initially had a promising run in the UFC, securing victories over Sam Sicilia and Mike Wilkinson before tasting defeat at the hands of Jeremy Stephens. Currently, the 39-year-old veteran is looking to bolster his post-UFC career, where he holds a record of 3-3. In terms of key fixtures, FNC 12 will be capped off with a heavyweight match featuring Ivan Vitasovic versus Michal Andryszak. The event will be broadcast live on the FNC’s official website.