“Beantown” has a pivotal bantamweight showdown coming its way this summer.
UFC broadcast partner ESPN late Monday, citing UFC president Dana White, reported that former double champion Henry Cejudo and contender Marlon Vera are set to meet Aug. 19 at UFC 292 from TD Garden in Boston. Contracts have not been signed, but verbal agreements are in place from both sides.
A person with knowledge of the booking subsequently confirmed the news to MMA Junkie.
Cejudo (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC), 36, is coming off a failed attempt at recapturing the 135-pound division title last month at UFC 288, where he lost a split decision to champion Aljamain Sterling. It was Cejudo’s first fight back after a retirement that lasted three years.
Vera (22-8-1 MMA, 14-7 UFC), 30, had the momentum of a four-fight winning streak halted in his most recent bout this past March, when he dropped a split decision to Cory Sandhagen at UFC on ESPN 43. Prior to that, “Chito” was making his way toward a potential title shot with consecutive victories over Davey Grant, Frankie Edgar, Rob Font, and Dominick Cruz. His wins over Edgar and Cruz were particularly vicious knockouts.
Cejudo and Sandhagen are ranked Nos. 6 and 7, respectively, in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie bantamweight rankings.
UFC 292 is headlined by a bantamweight title fight between Sean O’Malley and Sterling, who’s in search of a fourth consecutive defense of his belt.
Below is the updated UFC 292 lineup:
- Champion Aljamain Sterling vs. Sean O’Malley – for bantamweight title
- Champion Zhang Weili vs. Amanda Lemos – for strawweight title
- Henry Cejudo vs. Marlon Vera
- Brad Tavares vs. Chris Weidman
- Mario Bautista vs. Cody Garbrandt
- Gerald Meerschaert vs. Andre Petroski
- Maryna Moroz vs. Karine Silva
- Ian Machado Garry vs. Geoff Neal
- Andrea Lee vs. Natalia Silva
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 292.
