UFC 283 goes down in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this January, and the promotion continues to load up the card with local talent.
Among the most recent additions, Johnny Walker (19-7) is being targeted to face Paul Craig (16-5-1) in a light heavyweight clash of styles. Ag.Fight was first to report news of the match-up, with Craig later confirming the booking on social media. Walker had previously teased he had a bout offer, and confirmed he would be competing on the Rio card.
The 30-year old Walker recently got back in the win column, submitting Ion Cutelaba at UFC 279 last month. That victory snapped a two-fight skid that saw Walker drop fights to Jamahal Hill and Thiago Santos.
After starting his UFC run with three straight wins, the Brazilian has fallen to 5-4 inside the octagon overall.
Scotland’s Paul Craig saw a six-fight unbeaten streak snapped in his own last outing, when he lost a decision against Volkan Oezdemir at July’s UFC London.
UFC 283 takes place at the Jeunesse Arena in Rio on January 21, 2023. The event sees the promotion return to Brazil for the first time since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic; the promotion’s last trip to the South American nation came on March 14, 2020 when a Fight Night card in Brasilia took place inside an empty venue.
The following bouts have been reported for UFC 283 to date:
- Deiveson Figueiredo (c) vs. Brandon Moreno (ic) – for the UFC flyweight championship / title unification bout
- Mounir Lazzez vs. Gabriel Bonfim
- Josiane Nunes vs. Zarah Fairn Dos Santos
- Gregory Rodrigues vs. Brad Tavares
- Maurício Rua vs. Ihor Potieria
- Paul Craig vs. Johnny Walker
