Grant Dawson will get an opportunity to crack the UFC’s top 15 lightweight rankings in just his second fight back at lightweight.
Dawson (17-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) meets Diego Ferreira (17-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) at UFC Fight Night on Oct. 2 at a location and venue to be announced.
Two people with knowledge of the targeted booking informed MMA Junkie of the matchup Thursday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Dawson made a successful return to 155 pounds when he scored a “Performance of the Night” knockout over Leonardo Santos in March. With just one second remaining in the fight, Dawson unleashed brutal ground and pound to knock Santos out cold. Unbeaten in the UFC, the Glory MMA fighter has won his past eight in a row.
Ferreira will look to snap a two-fight losing skid when he meets the streaking Dawson. After winning six straight, including a submission of former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, Ferreira has dropped back-to-back fights to Beneil Dariush, and most recently a stoppage loss to Gregor Gillespie in May. He earned the “Fight of the Night” honor in both contests.
With the addition, the Oct. 2 lineup includes:
- Thiago Santos vs. Johnny Walker
- Bethe Correia vs. Karol Rosa
- Jared Gordon vs. Joe Solecki
- Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira
