Takeya Mizugaki will attempt to get back on track in his home country.
Mizugaki, who has lost two straight, will meet George Roop at UFC Fight Night: Barnett vs. Nelson on Sept. 26 in Japan, the UFC announced Thursday. The event will be held at the famous Saitama Super Arena.
Mizugaki (20-9-2), who lives and trains in Japan, has been finished in his last two fights — to Aljamain Sterling by submission and Dominick Cruz by first-round TKO. It is the 31-year-old’s first losing streak since 2007. Mizugaki, a perennial bantamweight contender, won five in a row before his current skid.
Roop (15-11) has lost two of three and is coming off a knockout loss to Rob Font at UFC 175 back in July 2014. The lanky, 6-foot-1 135-pound has not competed since then. Roop, 33, does have three wins in his last five fights going back to 2013.
UFC Fight Night 76 is headlined by a heavyweight scrap between Josh Barnett and Roy Nelson. In the co-main event, Gegard Mousasi takes on Roan Carneiro.