The former Sengoku featherweight champion, who defeated Alex Caceres in his promotional debut in September, will face Brazilian bantamweight Rani Yahya at the upcoming UFC Fight Night 70 card in Sao Paulo on June 27.
Sources close to the situation confirmed the match-up to MMAFighting.com following a report by Combate.
Kanehara (24-11-5) signed with the UFC in 2014 and was slated to meet perennial contender Urijah Faber at Japan’s UFN 52, but Caceres ended up facing Kanehara after Faber pulled out with an injury. A 40-fight veteran, Kanehara holds wins over the likes of Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto, Michihiro Omigawa and “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung.
Yahya (20-8, 1 no-contest), a former WEC title contender, returned to the win column in September with a second-round submission over Johnny Bedford. The Brazilian is 9-6 with one no-contest under the UFC and WEC banner, including wins over Mark Hominick, Eddie Wineland, Mike Brown and Josh Grispi.
Headlined by Erick Silva vs. Rick Story, UFC Fight Night 70 will crown the winners of the fourth season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil.
The former Sengoku featherweight champion, who defeated Alex Caceres in his promotional debut in September, will face Brazilian bantamweight Rani Yahya at the upcoming UFC Fight Night 70 card in Sao Paulo on June 27.
Sources close to the situation confirmed the match-up to MMAFighting.com following a report by Combate.
Kanehara (24-11-5) signed with the UFC in 2014 and was slated to meet perennial contender Urijah Faber at Japan’s UFN 52, but Caceres ended up facing Kanehara after Faber pulled out with an injury. A 40-fight veteran, Kanehara holds wins over the likes of Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto, Michihiro Omigawa and “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung.
Yahya (20-8, 1 no-contest), a former WEC title contender, returned to the win column in September with a second-round submission over Johnny Bedford. The Brazilian is 9-6 with one no-contest under the UFC and WEC banner, including wins over Mark Hominick, Eddie Wineland, Mike Brown and Josh Grispi.
Headlined by Erick Silva vs. Rick Story, UFC Fight Night 70 will crown the winners of the fourth season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil.
