The UFC is booking an intriguing women’s bantamweight bout on August 1. As first reported by MMA Junkie, former Invicta FC champion Yana Kunitskaya, who in her UFC debut challenged Cris Cyborg for featherweight gold, will meet Ketlen Vieira on that date.
No official event name or location has been announced as of yet. However, former 135lb champ Holly Holm is expected to meet top contender Irene Aldana that night.
Kunitskaya (12-5, 1NC) had picked up two straight wins inside the octagon after dropping back down to bantamweight following the Cyborg fight. However, paired opposite Aspen Ladd at UFC on ESPN 7 last December, she wound up finished via TKO in the third round.
Brazil’s Vieira (10-1) is also looking to bounce back from a loss — the first of her career. Vieira had been talked about as a potential title challenger prior to a shocking defeat at the hands of Irene Aldana last year. That’s after picking up wins over the likes of Sara McMann and Cat Zingano.
The winner of this bout is likely to be short-tracked back to contention given how thoroughly double-champ Amanda Nunes has cleared out the division. However, “The Lioness” is taking some time off as she awaits the birth of her first child with partner and fellow UFC athlete Nina Ansaroff.
Speaking of pregnancy, Kunitskaya announced hers a few months back — only to later admit it was an April Fool’s prank.
