Two rising middleweight prospects will collide hoping to further momentum from successful UFC debuts.
Former LFA champion Azamat Bekoev (19-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) will meet “The Ultimate Fighter 32” winner Ryan Loder (7-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) in a three-round middleweight bout May 3 at a UFC Fight Night event expected to take place in Des Moines, Iowa.
Two people with knowledge of the matchup informed MMA Junkie of the matchup Wednesday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Bekoev, 29, had an explosive promotional debut in January when he knocked out Zach Reese in the first round at UFC 311, in a fight he took on days’ notice. The win extended Bekoev’s winning streak to seven, a stretch that also included an LFA title win and two defenses.
Loder, 33, won the “TUF 32” middleweight tournament with a TKO of Robert Valentin in the final, after exhibition wins over Tom Theocharis and Omran Chaaban.
With the addition, the UFC Des Moines lineup includes:
- Cory Sandhagen vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
- Marlon Vera vs. Mario Bautista
- Yana Santos vs. Miesha Tate
- Montel Jackson vs. Daniel Marcos
- Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Daniel Rodriguez
- Gillian Robertson vs. Marina Rodriguez
- Jeong Yeong Lee vs. Trevor Peek
- Serhiy Sidey vs. Cameron Smotherman
- Junior Tafa vs. Tuco Tokkos
- Mario Bautista vs. Marlon Vera
