A new featherweight matchup is in the works for UFC on ESPN+ 38.
The promotion is in the process of booking Edson Barboza vs. Sodiq Yusuff for the event. A person with knowledge of the booking confirmed the matchup to MMA Junkie. The person requested anonymity because the UFC has not made the fight official. The news was first reported by Combate.
UFC on ESPN+ 38 is expected to take place Oct. 10, though a location hasn’t been announced. The card will stream on ESPN+.
Barboza (20-9 MMA, 14-9 UFC) will be looking for his first victory at 145 pounds after a failed featherweight debut at UFC on ESPN 8. The Brazilian came up short in a controversial split decision to Dan Ige. Barboza is currently on a three-fight skid and 1-5 in his past six outings.
Yusuff (11-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) will try to continue his unbeaten UFC run. The 27-year-old has notched four straight victories since winning a UFC contract during Season 2 of Dana White’s Contender Series. Yusuff most recently fought in January and took a unanimous decision from Andre Fili.
With the addition, the UFC’s Oct. 10 lineup now includes:
- Marlon Moraes vs. Cory Sandhagen
- Markus Perez vs. Rodolfo Vieira
- Edson Barboza vs. Sodiq Yusuff
