July’s UFC 276 has added middleweight action, as Dricus Du Plessis and Brad Tavares are set to throw down.
It’s a welcome return to action for both men. Du Plessis (16-2) went through three separate opponents for the UFC 273 card earlier this month before being pulled entirely, while Tavares (19-6) last competed in July 2021.
Hopefully, this match-up ends up sticking. MMA Fighting was first to report news of the booking.
South Africa’s Du Plessis has won both of his fights inside the UFC octagon thus far, but has fought just once a year for the past two years. In his promotional debut in October 2020, the former KSW champ knocked out Markuz Perez. The following year, he finished Trevin Giles.
Aside from the UFC 273 mishap, which saw him booked opposite Chris Curtis, Anthony Hernandez, and later Kelvin Gastelum (only for Gastelum to pull out of the fight), Dricus Du Plessis also had a fight against Andre Muniz fall through last December.
Hawaii’s Tavares has won two straight, most recently claiming a split decision win over Omari Akhmedov.
UFC 276 is expected to take place on July 1, 2022 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Just three fights have been reported for the event thus far. They are:
- Miesha Tate vs. Lauren Murphy
- Jessica Eye vs. Casey O’Neill
- Brad Tavares vs. Dricus du Plessis
