LFA light heavyweight champion Bruno Lopes is one impressive performance away from a UFC contract – as is his opponent, Brendson Ribeiro.
Lopes (11-0) and Ribeiro (14-5) will fight on the fifth episode of Season 7 of Dana White’s Contender Series, which takes place Sept. 5 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 because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Lopes, 30, has finished nine of his 11 professional opponents with five knockouts and four submissions. At LFA 143 in September 2022, Lopes won LFA gold with a knockout of Willyanedson Paiva.
Ribeiro, 26, is the Shoot Brasil light heavyweight champion and enters the bout on a two-fight winning streak. All 14 of his professional wins have come inside the distance including eight knockouts and six submissions.
Bruno Lopes dominates and TKOs Willyanedson Paiva to win the vacant LFA light heavyweight championship at #LFA143 pic.twitter.com/w1XQaqPQMz
— Will (@ChillemDafoe) October 1, 2022
Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 7 is beginning to fill up with a number of fighters and matchups already coming to light. The series is expected to kick off Aug. 8.
With the addition, the DWCS 61 lineup includes:
- Jean Silva vs. Kevin Villejos
- Bruno Lopes vs. Brendson Ribeiro
