Despite some delay, elite jiu-jitsu black belt and world champion Robert Drysdale will make his UFC debut after all.
Drysdale, 32, was expected to make his Octagon debut in July against Ednaldo Oliveira, but was forced to withdraw from the bout due to a lingering staph infection. According to the Las Vegas Sun, however, Drysdale will face Colorado-based Cody Donovan at UFC 167 in a light heavyweight contest in November. UFC officials confirmed the fight later Thursday.
Drysdale is currently 6-0 in professional MMA. He first competed in July of 2010 and has since won all of his bouts by first-round submission. The world-class jiu-jitsu competitor is a 2007 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Champion, 2005 IBJJF World Champion in the black belt division and holds numerous other prestigious titles.
Donovan, 32, is 1-1 in the UFC. He holds a victory over Nick Penner, which he earned at UFC on FX 6 in December of 2012. He most recently competed at UFC Fight Night 26 in August where he was stopped in the first round via strikes by Ovince St. Preux.
UFC 167 is headlined by a welterweight title bout between Georges St. Pierre and Johny Hendricks. The event takes place on Nov. 16 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.