A lightweight division clash is the first bout possibly added to the UFC 220 card as Islam Makhachev is going to be in action against Gleison Tibau.
MMA Fighting first reported the potential bout.
Makhachev (14-1-0) has won three of four in the UFC, defeating Leo Kuntz, Chris Wade and Nik Lentz. Makhachev is also a longtime veteran of the M-1 Challenge promotion out of Russia, winning all five fights he competed at there. Makhachev has also seen his last two bouts in the UFC go the distance and it’s been over two years since the last time he got a finish in the Octagon.
Tibau (33-12-0) is competing for the first time in over two years because he was suspended by USADA for a failed drug test. Tibau also hasn’t earned a victory in nearly three years, with that last victory coming over Norman Parke at UFC Fight Night 59. Tibau has also been in the UFC for nearly twelve years now and he is one of the longest tenured fighters currently in the promotion.
UFC 220 takes place on Saturday, January 20 from the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts with no main event announced at this time. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
