A featherweight slugfest has been added to UFC 300.
Nigeria's Sodiq Yusuff will step into the octagon against one of the most exciting up-and-coming fighters, Diego Lopes of Brazil, for the UFC's flagship UFC 300 in Las Vegas on Apr. 13, Dana White announced on Wednesday.
Lopes (23-6) made an immediate impression in his UFC debut after filling in on short notice at UFC 288. He took the undefeated No. 5 ranked featherweight Mosvar Evloev all three rounds, eventually losing by decision, but turning many heads after his impressive debut put the heavy favourite in jeopardy.
“He has big experience,” Evloev said after their fight. “This guy is very dangerous in the wrestling. How many submissions he did? I don’t know. He’s so dangerous. Once again, I’m so grateful he took this fight and he has a big future in the featherweight division."
Since his debut, the 29-year-old Brazilian snagged two first-round victories in succession, a lethal submission on Gavin Tucker and then another by knockout against Pat Sabatini.
Yusuff (13-3) is looking for a bounce-back win after Edson Barboza snapped his two-fight win streak by unanimous decision in October. The No. 12-ranked featherweight has not been finished since 2020 and is 6-2 since he made his UFC debut in late 2018.
Below are the confirmed bouts for UFC 300 on Apr. 13:
Lightweight: Diego Lopes vs. Sodiq Yusuff
Bantamweight: Holly Holm vs. Kayla Harrison
BMF Lightweight: Justin Gaethje (c) vs. Max Holloway
Lightweight: Jim Miller vs. Bobby Green
Women's Strawweight: Zhang Weili (c) vs. Yan Xiaonan
Lightweight: Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan
Light Heavyweight: Jiří Procházka vs. Aleksandar Rakić
Featherweight: Calvin Kattar vs. Aljamain Sterling
Middleweight: Bo Nickal vs. Cody Brundage
Bantamweight: Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Cody Garbrandt
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