The ‘King’ meets ‘The Happy Warrior’ in her next Octagon appearance.
A flyweight fight between an undefeated prospect and a seasoned veteran has beet set.
Casey O’Neill and Roxanne Modafferi are expected to meet at UFC 271 in February. Meni Mayer of MMA Ideas on Instagram was first to report the fight was in the works as contracts have yet to be signed. O’Neill later confirmed the news on Twitter.
O’Neill joined the promotion earlier this year and made her debut at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Lewis, where she defeated Shana Dobson via second-round technical knockout. The ‘King’ returned to the Octagon just four months later and submitted Lara Procópio with a rear-naked choke at UFC on ESPN: The Korean Zombie vs. Ige. O’Neill followed those wins with a ‘Performance of the Night’ awarded finish of Antonina Shevchenko at UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Walker this past October. The 24-year-old would soon be ranked in the flyweight division and holds the No. 15 spot.
Modafferi — the No. 11 ranked flyweight — has alternated between wins and losses throughout her UFC tenure, but is currently on a two-fight losing streak. The ‘Happy Warrior’ has dropped back-to-back decisions to Viviane Araújo and Taila Santos at UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny And UFC 266, respectively. Prior to those losses, the 46-fight veteran bested Andrea Lee at UFC Fight Night: Waterson vs. Hill.
UFC 271 is scheduled for Feb. 12 but does not have a location or venue announced yet. The headliner has also not been determined, but it is believed that Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker II will receive top billing that night. Stay tuned to Bloody Elbow for more updates to the event as they become available.