A clash between two of the 135-pound division’s top up-and-comers is in the works for UFC on ESPN 8.
Bantamweights Randy Costa and Martin Day are targeted to collide March 28 at the first UFC on ESPN event of 2020.
Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the booking Wednesday. The people asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Massachusetts’ Costa (5-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) has split his UFC appearances. After losing to Brandon Davis in his short-notice promotional debut, Costa came back in major fashion.
In front of his home crowd in Boston at UFC on ESPN 6 in October, Costa quickly finished Boston Salmon by strikes in Round 1.
As for Day (9-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC), the Hawaiian competitor takes his first fight since knee surgery. Day most recently competed November 2018 at UFC Fight Night 141, where he dropped a split decision to Pingyuan Liu.
UFC on ESPN 8 takes place March 28 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The card streams on ESPN.
With the newest addition, the UFC on ESPN 8 is as follows:
- Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzino Rozenstruik
- Raphael Assuncao vs. Cody Garbrandt
- Yorgan De Castro vs. Greg Hardy
- Sam Alvey vs. Khalil Rountree
- Carlos Felipe vs. Jeff Hughes
- Davey Grant vs. Louis Smolka
- Mizuki Inoue vs. Tecia Torres
- Randy Costa vs. Martin Day
