A UFC veteran will welcome an octagon newcomer to the promotion in August.
MMA Fighting was the first to report the news that Alessio Di Chirico will fight the debuting Aliaskhab Khizriev on August 28 at a yet-to-be-announced UFC event. Di Chirico would confirm the booking on his Instagram story.
Both fighters were supposed to fight earlier this year. Di Chirico was scheduled to fight earlier this month in June but pulled out with an undisclosed injury, and Khizriew was scheduled to fight in April, but COVID protocols halted his UFC debut.
Di Chirico (13-5) got back into the win column on the first UFC card of the year. The Italian fighter fought for his job when he faced Joaquin Buckley at UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Katta. He knocked Buckley out in this first round with a head kick and received a Performance of the Night bonus for his efforts. Before his loss, Di Chirico was on a three-fight losing streak, the first losing streak of his career.
Khizriev (13-0) received a UFC contract last year when he choked out Henrique Shiguemoto in 50 seconds last season on Dana White’s Contender Series. The Russian fighter has eight finishes in his 13 wins. There is a lot of hype behind Khizriev, and win over a very tough Di Chirico will open many eyes.
No location, venue, or broadcast details have yet to be announced by the promotion for UFC’s August 28 event.
The August 28 fight card now includes the following reported bouts:
- Gerald Meerschaert vs. Makhmud Muradov
- Ketlen Vieira vs. Sara McMann
- Kevin Croom vs. Marcelo Rojo
- Pat Sabatini vs. Jamall Emmers
- Joselyne Edwards vs. Zarah Fairn Dos Santos
- Mario Bautista vs. Guido Cannetti
- Dustin Jacoby vs. Askar Mozharov
- Tracy Cortez vs. JJ Aldrich
- Alessio Di Chirico vs. Aliaskhab Khizriev
