After losing out on a big opportunity, Manon Fiorot got an even better one.
Fiorot (8-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) was originally scheduled to face Jessica Eye in Saturday’s UFC 272 event, but the bout was scrapped after Eye withdrew due to injury.
But it didn’t take long for Fiorot to get booked again as she will now be taking on another former title challenger in Jennifer Maia (19-8-1 MMA, 4-4 UFC) at UFC on ESPN 33, which takes place March 26 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Two people with knowledge of the booking confirmed the matchup to MMA Junkie on Tuesday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Unbeaten in the UFC, France’s Fiorot went the distance for the first time in the octagon when she defeated Mayra Bueno Silva via unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 195 in October. Prior to that, the former UAE Warriors flyweight champion had finished her past five opponents.
Currently ranked No. 4 in the UFC’s flyweight rankings, former title challenger Maia has split her past six fights. After defeating Eye at UFC 264, the 33-year-old former Invicta FC champ suffered a decision loss to Katlyn Chookagian in January.
With the addition, the current UFC Columbus lineup includes:
- Curtis Blaydes vs. Chris Daukaus
- Max Griffin vs. Neil Magny
- Sara McMann vs. Karol Rosa
- Tucker Lutz vs. Seungwoo Choi
- Askar Askarov vs. Kai Kara-France
- Danaa Batgerel vs. Montel Jackson
- Bryan Barberena vs. Matt Brown
- Nate Landwehr vs. Lerone Murphy
- Alexa Grasso vs. Joanne Wood
- Aliaskhab Khizriev vs. Abusupiyan Magomedov
- David Dvorak vs. Matheus Nicolau
- Marc Diakiese vs. Viacheslav Borshchev
- Luis Saldana vs. Bruno Souza
- Ilir Latifi vs. Aleksei Oleinik
