MMAJunkie
Flyweight standout Jussier da Silva (14-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is headed to the UFC and is expected to meet "The Ultimate Fighter 14" winner John Dodson (13-5 MMA, 2-0 UFC) in his promotional debut.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed that at least one fighter has agreed to the matchup, which Tatame first reported.
UFC on FX 5 takes place Oct. 5 at Target Center in Minneapolis. The night's main card airs on FX, and FUEL TV and Facebook are expected to carry the prelims.
The da Silva vs. Dodson bout likely will be part of the main card.
Recently, da Silva has plied his craft with the California-based Tachi Palace Fights promotion, which was the preeminent U.S. organization for flyweights until the UFC adopted the division earlier this year, and Shooto Brazil, where he's a titleholder. In fact, da Silva was considered the flyweight division's top-ranked fighter before an early-2011 loss to recent UFC signee Ian McCall. Since then, though, "Formiga" (Portuguese for "Ant") has racked up five consecutive wins, the past four via submission.
Dodson, who won "TUF 14" as a bantamweight, recently returned to his more natural division of flyweight. At UFC on FOX 3, he scored a decision victory over scrappy Tim Elliott (a late replacement for injured Darren Uyenoyama). Dodson, a high-energy member of Team Jackson-Winklejohn, has now won four straight fights and six of his past seven.
For more on UFC on FX 5, stay tuned to the Rumors section of the site.
Click to expand...