Former ADCC submission champion Robert Drysdale (6-0) has been signed by the top mixed martial arts promotion and is set to debut inside the Octagon this August at UFC 163 versus sophomore fighter Ednaldo Oliveira (13-1-1, 1NC) in a light heavyweight bout.
The Las Vegas Journal announced the news Tuesday afternoon and was later re-Tweeted by the UFC (@UFC).
– Have you heard of our new fighter @RobertDrysdale?
UFC 163: Aldo vs. Pettis is expected to take place on August 3, 2013 at the HSBC Arena in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo will defend his belt against former WEC champ and #2 ranked lightweight, Anthony Pettis.
Drysdale won the ADCC World title back in 2007 and earned Gold in the 2005 World Jiu-Jitsu Championships. The submission ace is well sought out in Vegas by many mixed martial artists and that training is probably why Drysdale has run a 6-0 run as a pro-fighter. All six of those wins have come via first round submission with his most recent victory coming last April over D.J. Linderman at a Legacy FC 19 event in Texas.
Oliveira hasn’t fought since January 2012 when he debuted in the Octagon at UFC 142 where he lost to Gabriel Gonzaga via first round submission. The Brazilian had been linked to bouts at UFC on FUEL TV 4 and UFC on FX 6 but was forced off both cards due to injury. Before joining the UFC Oliveira had gone undefeated in his fifteen pro-bouts.