Former lightweight title challenger Gray Maynard will return for the first time in nearly eight months when he enters the cage againstĀ Fabricio Camoes on August 2, 2014 at UFC 176.
UFC officials confirmed the bout via Twitter following an initial report by theĀ Los Angeles Daily News.
After racking up a remarkable eight-fight UFC win streak from 2007 to 2010, a run which earned “The Bully” the first of his two lightweight title shots, Maynard (11-3-1, 1 NC) has fallen on hard times of late, emerging victorious just once over the course of his last five fights.
Most recently the 35-year-old lost back-to-back contests against TJ Grant and Nate Diaz, both which ended via violent knockouts. Regardless, Maynard remains the No. 8 ranked lightweight on the UFC’s official rankings.
Likewise, Camoes (14-8-1) enters the bout having lost two straight fights in his second UFC stint. The Brazilian dropped a unanimous decision Melvin Guillard in mid-2012, then fell victim to a Jim Miller first-round armbar last December.
UFC 176 is set to take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo will look to defend his belt against streaking Team Alpha Male product Chad Mendes for a second time in the night’s main event.