UFC flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson is set to defend his belt against Wilson Reis at UFC on FOX 24. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs. Robert Whittaker is also booked for the card.
UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson will look to tie Anderson Silva’s UFC record for most consecutive title defenses (10) in the main event of UFC on FOX 24, where he will face top five Wilson Reis. Also booked for the card is a pivotal middleweight matchup between Ronaldo Souza and Robert Whittaker.
UFC officials announced the two bouts on the UFC 209 broadcast on Saturday evening.
Johnson was booked to fight Reis at UFC 201 last July, but was forced out of the contest with an injury. In his last fight, “Mighty Mouse” defeated The Ultimate Fighter 24 winner Tim Elliott by decision after surviving an early scare in the first round. Johnson also holds wins over Henry Cejudo, Joseph Benavidez, and John Dodson.
Reis is currently riding a three-fight winning streak. In his last outing, the Brazilian defeated Yuta Sasaki by unanimous decision at UFC 208 in February. In 2016, Reis tapped out newcomer Hector Sandoval and upset Dustin Ortiz.
Souza has won two in a row since losing a narrow decision to No. 1-ranked middleweight Yoel Romero in December 2015. In his last outing, “Jacare” finished Tim Boetsch in the first round. Prior to that, he demolished former champ Vitor Belfort in the first round at UFC 198 in May 2016.
Whittaker has been on a tear since moving up to the 185-pound division in 2014. “The Reaper,” who’s on a six-fight winning streak, most recently knocked out Derek Brunson in his first UFC main event. Whittaker also holds wins over Uriah Hall, Rafael Natal, and Brad Tavares.
UFC on FOX 24 takes place live from Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo., on April 15. Also slated for the card is a women’s strawweight bout between Rose Namajunas and Michelle Waterson.