Victoria Leonardo vs. Melissa Gatto Set For UFC 265

Victoria Leonardo Credit: Dave Mandel, Invicta FC

Melissa Gato will finally make her UFC debut in August.

Combate was the first to report the news that Victoria Leonardo will welcome Melissa Gatto to the UFC at UFC 265 on August 7. Both fighters would confirm the news on social media.

Leonardo (8-3) lost her UFC debut earlier this year on ‘Fight Island’ at UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs. Magny. She lost via TKO in the second to Manon Fiorot, snapping her two fight-win streak. Before that, she won a UFC contract by defeated Chelsea Hackett on season four of Dana White’s Contender Series.

Gatto (6-0-2) has been plagued with injuries and travel restrictions which has caused her to prolong her UFC debut. She was originally supposed to make her debut in her home country of Brazil at UFC 237. By the time Gatto steps in the octagon, it will almost three years since she has competed – which was a first-round submission against Karol Rosa. Fingers crossed she makes it to the fight.

UFC 265 does not have an official location or venue announced currently. The card as it stands looks like this:

  • Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Pena – for the UFC women’s bantamweight title
  • Uriah Hall vs. Sean Strickland
  • Jose Aldo vs. Pedro Munhoz
  • Johnny Muñoz Jr. vs. Jamey Simmons
  • Drako Rodriguez vs. Vince Morales
  • Victoria Leonardo vs. Melissa Gatto