A major UFC bantamweight bout is in the works.
Top contenders Jose Aldo and Merab Dvalishvili are expected to collide Aug. 20 at UFC 278. The event takes place at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City.
Two people with knowledge of the booking informed MMA Junkie of the targeted matchup Tuesday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. The matchup was first reported by MMA reporter Ariel Helwani.
Aldo (31-7 MMA, 21-6 UFC) rides a three-fight winning streak into the bout, including victories over Marlon Vera, Pedro Munhoz, and Rob Font. The streak that dates back to 2020 is Aldo’s best and only at bantamweight. After a reign as champion and then top contender at featherweight, Aldo dropped to 135 pounds in 2019. Since a 0-2 start to his divisional tenure, Aldo rallied and is now close once again to a UFC title shot.
Dvalishvili (14-4 MMA, 7-2 UFC) meanwhile has streaked up the divisional ladder following an 0-2 start to his UFC tenure. Dvalishvili rides a seven-fight winning streak into UFC 278. Notable wins include Marlon Moraes, Cody Stamann, and John Dodson. At UFC on ESPN 10, Dvalishvili broke the UFC/WEC bantamweight record for most takedowns in a fight with 13.
With the addition, the UFC 278 lineup includes:
- Champion Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards – for welterweight title
- Jose Aldo vs. Merab Dvalishvili
- Paulo Costa vs. Luke Rockhold
- Luis Saldana vs. Sean Woodson
- Qileng Aori vs. Jay Perrin
- Victor Altamirano vs. Jake Hadley
- Harry Hunsucker vs. Tyson Pedro
