A potential FOTN candidate has been made in the light heavyweight division. MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz reports that Fabio Maldonado will fight Joey Beltran at UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Shields on October 9th in Barueri, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Maldonado (19-6) had lost 3 fights in a row, including an inhumane beating at the hands of Glover Teixeira at UFC 153, but he saved his job with a win over Roger Hollett at UFC on FX 8. The former pro boxer has arguably been on the unlucky side in his decision losses to Igor Pokrajac and Kyle Kingsbury.
Beltran (14-8, 1 NC) is returning from suspension after testing positive for nandrolone in his UFC on FX 6 drug test. That failed drug test turned his win over Igor Pokrajac into a no contest, and that leaves him winless in his last 4 UFC fights. “The Mexicutioner” is a two time Fight of the Night winner and is known for his great chin and brawling style.
Other fights targeted or confirmed for this Fox Sports 1 card include Erick Silva/Dong Hyun Kim, Rony Jason/Jeremy Stephens, and Thiago Silva/Matt Hamill.
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