An exciting matchup between bantamweight prospects has been added to the UFC’s final pay-per-view event of the year.
Randy Costa will return to action against Tony Kelly at UFC 269 on December 11. Sources familiar with the situation confirmed the booking with MMA Junkie, but have asked to remain anonymous because the promotion has not yet made an official announcement. The event does not yet have a confirmed venue or location.
Costa (6-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) teased the matchup on social media on Friday.
Just an update: pic.twitter.com/owoeS2BhDY
— Randy Costa (@RandyCosta135) September 3, 2021
In his previous outing, Costa faced Adrian Yanez in a fight that picked up a lot of steam on social media due to their love for junk food, essentially becoming a “Dr. Pepper vs. Reese’s” fight. Costa would go on to lose the fight, bringing the prospect back to .500 in his short UFC tenure.
On the other side, Kelley (7-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) is coming off a win over Ali AlQaisi at UFC Fight Night 179. Kelley was scheduled to face Trevin Jones in July but withdrew from the bout. By the time he enters the cage at UFC 269, he will be over a year removed from competition. Coincidentally, he will also look to stay above .500 in the UFC, as he is currently 1-1 with the promotion.
With the addition, the UFC 269 lineup includes:
- Champion Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Pena – for women’s bantamweight title
- Cody Garbrandt vs. Kai Kara-France
- Priscila Cachoeira vs. Gillian Robertson
- Randy Costa vs. Tony Kelley
