After an impressive octagon debut, lightweight John Cholish will see an immediate increase in opponent level. The east coast fighter will take on surging Danny Castillo in a bout scheduled for the upcoming UFC on FOX 3 event.
The UFC confirmed that both fighters have agreed to the bout.
Cholish (8-1), a Team Renzo Gracie fighter out of New York, won his eighth straight fight overall at UFC 140, earning a TKO victory over Mitch Clarke.
Cholish is one of the more interesting stories in MMA, having graduated from Cornell University of the Ivy League. He also holds a white-collar career as a commodities trader while progressing his fight career.
His next step will almost certainly be the most challenging of his fighting days, as he prepares for Castillo, a winner of five of his last six. In his most recent bout, Castillo (13-4) earned a decision over Anthony Njokuani. Castillo has been a Zuffa fighter far longer than Cholish, making his WEC debut back in 2008 before moving over to the UFC in 2011. Overall, he’s 8-4 during his UFC/WEC run.
UFC on FOX 3 takes place from the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey on May 5. The arena is less than a one-hour drive from Morristown, where Cholish went to high school.