A featherweight matchup is the latest addition to the UFC’s July 18 event.
Grant Dawson will take on Nad Narimani at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi – also known as “Fight Island.”
Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the booking Monday but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Dawson (15-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC), a contract winner on “Dana White’s Contender Series,” has won his first three UFC fights and is coming off a second-round submission over Darrick Minner in February.
After making good in his first two octagon appearances, Narimani (12-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) suffered a second-round stoppage loss to Mike Grundy last March. The former Cage Warriors featherweight champion was scheduled to face Nik Lentz at UFC on ESPN+ 24 in January, but was forced out due to injury.
With the addition, the current July 18 lineup includes:
- Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Joseph Benavidez – for vacant UFC flyweight title
- Kelvin Gastelum vs. Jack Hermansson
- Marc Diakiese vs. Rafael Fiziev
- Askar Askarov vs. Alexandre Pantoja
- Roman Dolidze vs. Khadis Ibragimov
- Carlos Felipe vs. Serghei Spivac
- Davi Ramos vs. Arman Tsarukyan
- Grant Dawson vs. Nad Narimani
