UFC flyweights will collide in Jacksonville on May 16, when American Cortney Casey takes on Italy’s Mara Romero Borella. Cageside Press confirmed the booking with a source close to the fight following an initial report by Combate.
In addition to Casey vs. Borella, two other fights are also expected for the event: Giga Chikadze vs. Mike Davis has been added at featherweight, while at heavyweight, Don’Tayle Mayes vs. Rodrigo Nascimento is anticipated. Chikadze confirmed his involvement in the card on social media on Tuesday.
The May 16 event is expected to air on ESPN and ESPN+, and TSN in Canada. Currently nameless, the show will take place at the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. Alistair Overeem vs. Walt Harris is expected to headline.
Casey (8-7) has long plied her trade at strawweight, and is 1-1 across her last two fights. Those consist of a win over Angela Hill, and a loss to Cynthia Calvillo. She’ll face Mara Romero Borella at flyweight, however, after a prior fight with Lara Procópio fell through in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic hitting U.S. shores.
For her part, Borella (12-7) has lost two straight, to Lauren Murphy and Montana Del La Rosa.
Mayes (7-3) and Nascimento (7-0) were set to fight twice in April, at both UFC Portland and UFC Lincoln. With the coronavirus issuing knockout blows to those cards, the third time might just be the charm for the heavyweight pair.
Mike Davis (8-2) will enter his bout with Chikadze (9-2) off a win over Thomas Gifford, in a rather lopsided fight last fall. Chikadze, meanwhile, has won four straight.
