Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
The two bantamweights will compete at 145 lbs.
We have a late addition to next Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night card in Abu Dhabi.
MMA Fighting reports that a featherweight matchup between bantamweight contenders Jimmie Rivera and Cody Stamann is set for July 15th. There’s no word on whether the addition of this fight is a sign that Frankie Edgar will not get a replacement opponent after Pedro Munhoz was pulled due to a positive COVID-19 test.
Rivera (22-4) is on a two-fight losing streak, having dropped decisions to top contenders Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling. The New Jersey native recently recovered from COVID-19 and eyed a UFC return in August. Now it looks as if his next Octagon appearance will be a bit sooner than that.
Stamann (19-2-1) has only been beaten by Sterling in seven-fight UFC career. He’s coming off an emotional decision win over Brian Kelleher last month, just days after the sudden passing of his younger brother. Preceding that bout was a draw with Song Yadong, a semi-controversial one as it looked like Stamann had done enough to win the decision.
The July 15th main event is a featherweight bout between contenders Calvin Kattar and Dan Ige. As mentioned earlier, Frankie Edgar vs. Pedro Munhoz is off and it was supposed to be the co-main event, but we’ll soon find out where Rivera-Stamann ends up in the lineup, as well as if Edgar will remain on the card.