The bantamweight clash between [autotag]Frankie Edgar[/autotag] and [autotag]Pedro Munhoz[/autotag] has been rebooked once again, with the pair now set to face off in Las Vegas in August.
The two 135-pound contenders were twice scheduled to meet on Saturday at UFC 251, but the matchup was later pushed back to the UFC’s midweek “Fight Island” Card on Jul. 15. However, that booking didn’t survive, either, when it was revealed the Munhoz (18-4 MMA, 8-3 UFC) had tested positive for COVID-19 prior to traveling to Abu Dhabi.
At the time, Edgar (23-8-1 MMA, 17-8-1 UFC) tweeted a message of support for his rival and promised him that he’d be waiting to face him once the Brazilian had recovered from the illness.
Now the pair have been booked on their third fight card, with the duo now set to do battle at bantamweight at UFC 252. The event is set to take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Aug. 15. The matchup was officially announced during the UFC 251 broadcast on Saturday night.
Edgar is looking to rediscover peak form after dropping to bantamweight following an unsuccessful attempt to capture the featherweight title.
“The Answer” suffered three losses from his last four outings at 145 pounds as he fell to defeat against Brian Ortega, then-champion Max Holloway and Chan Sung Jung.
Now Edgar is set to try his luck at 135 pounds as he bids to position himself for a shot at the title, and the chance to become a two-division UFC champion.
His first bantamweight test will come against Munhoz, who saw a three-fight win streak come to an end against top contender Aljamain Sterling at UFC 238 last June.
The Brazilian has lost just twice since 2015 and will view his fight with Edgar as an opportunity to insert himself into the title conversation at 135 pounds.
With the addition, the confirmed UFC 252 lineup includes:
MAIN CARD
- Champion Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier (for heavyweight title)
- Junior Dos Santos vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
- Magomed Ankalaev vs. Ion Cutelaba
- Frankie Edgar vs. Pedro Munhoz
- Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Livinha Souza vs. Ashley Yoder
- Felice Herrig vs. Virna Jandiroba
- Rogerio Bontorin vs. Manel Kape
- Zelim Imadaev vs. Laureano Staropoli