Kyler Phillips will look to crack the top-10 bantamweight rankings when he takes on an established veteran.
Phillips (9-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) meets Raphael Assuncao (27-8 MMA, 14-7 UFC) on July 24 at UFC Fight Night, which doesn’t currently have an announced location or venue. A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie after an initial post by Phillips on social media.
Phillips, an “Ultimate Fighter” and Dana White’s Contender Series alum, is 3-0 in his UFC tenure, most recently defeating Song Yadong by unanimous decision at UFC 259.
Meanwhile, perennial contender Assuncao is enduring the roughest stretch of his career. After winning four consecutive fights, which included current bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, former title challenger Marlon Moraes and top contender Rob Font, the Brazilian has dropped three in a row to Moraes, Cory Sandhagen, and former champ Cody Garbrandt by vicious one-punch knockout.
With the addition, the July 24 lineup includes:
- Macy Chiasson vs. Aspen Ladd
- Maycee Barber vs. Miranda Maverick
- Trevin Jones vs. Tony Kelley
- Raphael Assuncao vs. Kyler Phillips
