A matchup between UFC featherweights [autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag] and [autotag]Sodiq Yusuff[/autotag] is in the works for October.
Barboza (23-11 MMA, 17-11 UFC) and Yusuff (13-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) have agreed to meet at UFC Fight Night on Oct. 14, multiple people with knowledge of the situation confirmed to MMA Junkie. The people requested anonymity because the promotion hasn’t made an official announcement.
The event is expected to take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Broadcast plans have not been revealed.
Barboza, 37, will look to string together back-to-back wins after scoring a brutal knockout of Billy Quarantillo at UFC on ESPN 44 in April. The longtime lightweight contender dropped to featherweight in May 2020, and has since gone 3-3 in the weight class.
The Brazilian will look to bring his divisional record above .500 when he takes on Yusuff, 30, who is an honorable mention in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie featherweight rankings. Yusuff has just one blemish on his octagon record through seven appearances, and that came against No. 8-ranked Arnold Allen in April 2021.
The latest lineup for UFC Fight Night on Oct. 14 now includes:
- Irina Alekseeva vs. Melissa Dixon
- Emily Ducote vs. Ashley Yoder
- Edson Barboza vs. Sodiq Yusuff