Two hard-hitting light heavyweights will collide in the octagon for a UFC event in October.
Multiple sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, have confirmed to Cageside Press that Nick Negumereanu will fight Ike Villanueva on October 23. Paulo Costa and Marvin Vettori are expected to headline the card.
Negumereanu (10-1) picked up his first UFC win in his last outing when he defeated Aleksa Camur via split decision after taking 2020 off. The Romanian lost to Saparbeg Safarov in his UFC debut.
Since getting to the UFC last year, Villanueva (18-12) has been busy fighting four times since 2019. After dropping his first two to Chase Sherman at heavyweight and then suffering a nasty cut against Jordan Wright, “Hurricane” got back into the win column to start his 2021. He knocked Vinicius Moreira out on ‘Fight Island’ and, in the process, gave him his pink slip. Villanueva lost his last fight via TKO to Marcin Prachnio when he got hit with a body kick.
No location, venue, or broadcast plan has been announced for the October 23 event, but UFC President Dana White said that all Fight Nights will be staying at the Apex in Las Vegas, NV.
The October 23 fight card now includes the following reported bouts:
- Paulo Costa vs. Marvin Vettori
- Jessica-Rose Clark vs. Joselyne Edwards
- Randa Markos vs. Lívia Renata Souza
- Jeff Molina vs. Daniel Lacerda
- Gregory Rodrigues vs. Jun Yong Park
- Mason Jones vs. Alan Patrick II
- Kris Moutinho vs. Aaron Phillips
- Nick Negumereanu vs. Ike Villanueva
