Thousands expected at UFC smackdown in Halifax tonight

Halifax is getting pumped for a UFC smackdown tonight.

Derrick (The Black Beast) Lewis faces Travis (Hapa) Browne in the main event at Scotiabank Centre.

The last time Halifax hosted the event was UFC Fight Night 54 in October of 2014. That drew a crowd of 10,782. Ticket prices range from $48 for the upper back bowl to $183 for floor seats.

Johny (Bigg Rigg) Hendricks makes his middleweight debut Sunday night after a run of problems making 170 pounds. The former welterweight champion lost the belt in 2014.

Hendricks will face Hector Lombard at 185 pounds.

Dutch mixed martial artist Stefan Struve had been on the main event card but withdrew due to injury in January.

Gavin Tucker, a former ECC champion in Atlantic Canada, is fighting Sam Sicilia in the featherweight match. Tucker signed with the UFC last month. Sicilia has fought 11 times in the UFC and is 15-7 overall.

Tucker, a Newfoundlander now training with Titans MMA in Halifax, is a perfect 9-0. He last fought in July and scored a first-round knockout.

Also tonight:

- Canadian Elias Theodorou will fight Cezar Ferreira in a middleweight bout.

- Canadian middleweight Ryan Janes takes on Gerald Meerschaert.

- Sara McMann will fight Liz Carmouche in the women's bantamweight division. Both women lost to then-champion Ronda Rousey and will look to use a win to propel themselves back into title contention.