Former Invicta title challenger Mizuki Inoue is now a member of the UFC roster.
The 24-year-old Japanese strawweight won’t have to wait long for her promotional debut. With Luana Carolina out, Inoue will replace the Brazilian and take on Wu Yanan at UFC on ESPN+ 15.
Both fighters confirmed the booking on social media, following a report from RealFight PH.
UFC on ESPN+ 15 will take place Aug. 31 at the Universiade Sports Center in Shenzhen, China. The main card will stream live on ESPN+ after prelims on ESPN.
Inoue (13-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC), 24, has won three out of her last four bouts. The lone loss in the stretch was a split decision suffered at the hands of future-UFC strawweight Virna Jandiroba.
Most recently, the 24-year-old Inoue faced UFC veteran Viviane Pereira at Invicta FC 32. She won the bout via unanimous decision.
Her opponent Yanan (10-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) has split her two UFC bouts to date. After she lost her UFC debut to Gina Mazany at UFC Fight Night 122, Yanan defeated Lauren Mueller with a slick first-round armbar submission at UFC Fight Night 141.
Yanan was scheduled to face Luana Carolina at UFC 237 in May, but unlike their recently-canceled booking, it was the Chinese fighter who pulled out due to injury.
UFC on ESPN+ 15 is currently headlined by UFC women’s strawweight champion Jessica Andrade (20-6 MMA, 11-4 UFC) and challenger Weili Zhang (10-3 MMA, 6-4 UFC). If she wins in her home country, Zhang could become the first Asian champion in the promotion’s history.
