The UFC has matched up two of its bantamweight up-and-comers.
The promotion is close to finalizing a fight between Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 4 standout Adrian Yanez and former Combate Americas bantamweight champion Gustavo Lopez for the March 20 event.
At this time, the card doesn’t have a publicly known location or venue.
Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the targeted booking Monday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. MMA Island was the first to report the news.
Yanez (12-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) burst into the national spotlight in August with a 39-second, UFC-contract-earning knockout of Brady Huang on DWCS. On Oct. 31, Yanez made his promotional debut at UFC Fight Night 181. Yanez picked up his second-straight violent knockout against fellow newcomer Victor Rodriguez, who he headkicked en route to a first-round finish.
Lopez (12-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) made his UFC debut in June when he stepped in on days’ notice to fight surging bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili. Though he lost that fight by unanimous decision, Lopez returned Nov. 7 to submit Anthony Birchak in under three minutes.
With the addition, the March 20 lineup includes:
- Max Griffin vs. Song Kenan
- Gustavo Lopez vs. Adrian Yanez
