Islam Makhachev will return to the Octagon to face former RFA lightweight champion Thiago Moises at a UFC Fight Night event on July 17, MMA Fighting confirmed on Wednesday following an initial report from ESPN.
Makhachev (8-1 UFC, 19-1 MMA) trains alongside former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and has been tipped by some pundits as ‘The Eagle’s’ eventual lightweight successor. The 29-year-old Sambo world champion is riding a seven-fight win streak and is fresh off a third-round submission victory over Drew Dober at UFC 259. He is currently #10 in the UFC lightweight rankings.
Moises (4-2 UFC, 15-4 MMA) is riding a three-fight win streak and last fought at UFC Fight Night 186, where he earned a unanimous decision win over Alexander Hernandez. The Brazilian was recruited by the UFC after scoring a highlight reel head kick KO against Gleidson Cutis on Dana White’s 2018 Contender Series.
UFC Fight Night 191, which is expected to feature Makhachev vs. Moises on the main card, will take place on July 17 at a TBA venue.
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