Riding seven straight wins, Thales Leites has been set up with a Top 15 middleweight contender. The Brazilian will meet Tim Boetsch at UFC 183 on January 31.
Sherdog.com reported the booking of the bout Wednesday.
After being released by the world’s top MMA promotion in August 2009, Leites posted a 6-1 record in smaller shows to earn his way back to the Octagon. Once a middleweight title challenger, Leites looks to be back on his way toward the top of the 185-pound class.
Since rejoining the UFC roster, Leites has beaten all four opponents he has faced. In his past two bouts, Leites unveiled new finishing ability by knocking out Francis Carmont and Trevor Smith. Although he was released following his loss to Leites, Carmont was a Top 15 middleweight not long ago.
Boetsch was also cut by the UFC brass in 2009, but he, too, earned his way back to the big show by stopping three straight foes. The Barbarian hasn’t been as flawless as Leites since returning, but he’s picked up some big wins against 185-pound contenders. Yushin Okami, Hector Lombard, CB Dollaway and more recently Brad Tavares have lost to Boetsch during his current UFC stint. However, losses to Luke Rockhold, Mark Munoz and Costas Philippou have prevented Boetch from reaching the next level.
Leites and Boetsch are both 33 years old right now. This is the time for them to make their most serious runs at the middleweight championship. This could be a decisive matchup in the careers of both men.
Headlined by a highly anticipated bout between former middleweight champion Anderson Silva and former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz, UFC 183 will be held in Las Vegas and will also feature a matchup between Jordan Mein and Thiago Alves as well as more contests to be determined.
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