Two more light heavyweights will fight for a UFC contract this summer.
Brazil’s Paulo Renato Jr. will get his second shot on Dana White’s Contender Series when he meets Ibo Aslan. The bout is set for DWCS 58, the seventh season’s second episode, on Aug. 15 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the booking but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion is yet to make an official announcement.
Turkey’s Aslan (11-1) had previously been targeted for DWCS, but the opportunity never materialized. He enters the bout on a three-fight winning streak and a 100 percent finishing rate. All of his career wins have come by knockout or TKO.
Renato (12-2) competed on DWCS, Season 6 in 2022 when he lost a unanimous decision to Jamal Pogues. The bout was at heavyweight. Since the fight, Renato is 2-0 with two first-round stoppages due to strikes.
With the addition, the DWCS 58 lineup includes:
- Abdul-Kerim Al-Sewady vs. George Hardwick
- Eduarda Moura vs. Janaina Silva
- Hyder Amil vs. Emrah Sonmez
- Ibo Aslan vs. Paulo Renato Jr.
- Charalampos Grigoriou vs. Cameron Smotherman
