UFC has booked a pair of flyweight championship fights for its UFC 255 pay-per-view event on Nov. 21, UFC president Dana White told ESPN on Friday.
Men's flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo will take on former bantamweight champ Cody Garbrandt, and women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko will seek her fourth title defense against Jennifer Maia. UFC has not decided the bout order or location for UFC 255.
Figueiredo (19-1) won the 125-pound title by knocking out Joseph Benavidez in the first round of a title fight last month. The Brazilian is 7-1 in UFC and widely viewed as one of the hardest hitters in the division. He has recorded three finishes in a row.
A source also told ESPN's Ariel Helwani that Figueiredo has signed a new six-fight deal with UFC.
Garbrandt (12-3) will look to add his name to a short list of athletes to win UFC titles in multiple weight classes. He won a 135-pound title in 2016 before suffering an 0-3 skid. He has since rebounded with a spectacular knockout over Raphael Assuncao in June. Garbrandt will be making his debut at 125 pounds but told ESPN recently that he does not anticipate trouble.
Shevchenko (19-3) has established herself as one of the most dominant champions in UFC. She has made her three title defenses look easy, against Jessica Eye, Liz Carmouche and Katlyn Chookagian.
She was expected to face Joanne Calderwood in her next defense, but Calderwood chose to accept a fight against Maia last weekend in Las Vegas. Maia (18-6-1) upset Calderwood in the first round via armbar to earn her first UFC title shot.
