UFC 257 is on the verge of gaining a major 115-pound fight to its lineup.
Strawweight contenders [autotag]Amanda Ribas[/autotag] and [autotag]Michelle Waterson[/autotag] have agreed to fight one another at UFC 257 on Jan. 23. The event does not currently have a location or venue.
Multiple people with knowledge of the targeted booking confirmed the matchup to MMA Junkie on Monday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. ESPN was the first to report the news.
Ribas (10-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) looks to keep her five-fight winning streak alive. Since signing with the UFC in 2019, Ribas has defeated Emily Whitmire, Mackenzie Dern, Randa Markos and Paige VanZant in succession.
Meanwhile, Waterson (18-8 MMA, 6-4 UFC) rebounded from back-to-back losses when she defeated Angela Hill in a “Fight of the Night” bonus-earning split-decision victory in September. Waterson has won four of her most recent six outings.
A lightweight rematch between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier has been linked to this event, but there has yet to be an official announcement.
With the addition, the UFC 257 lineup includes:
- Joanne Calderwood vs. Jessica Eye
- Amanda Ribas vs. Michelle Waterson
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