Former UFC middleweight contender Thales Leites (20-4) has an opponent and a date for his return bout to the Octagon.
Leites will face former BAMMA middleweight champ Tom ‘Kong’ Watson (16-5) this summer in Brazil as part of the upcoming UFC 163 event.
Officials with the top promotions British office announced the bout on Twitter (@UFC_UK) on Thursday afternoon.
– FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT! Top Brit @TomKongWatson and former UFC title challenger @thalesleites have verbally agreed to meet on Aug 3 at #UFC163
UFC 163: Aldo vs. Pettis is expected to take place on August 3, 2013 at the HSBC Arena in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The event will see UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo defend his title against the #2 ranked lightweight Anthony Pettis.
Leites returns to the UFC with a 6-1 record following a second straight loss in the Octagon back in August 2009. The former UFC middleweight contender fought last March at an Amazon Forest Combat 2 event, avenging a previous in this stretch by submitting Matt Horwich. Other wins include victories against Jeremy Horn, Jesse Taylor and Dean Lister.
Leites’ last appearance in the Octagon was at UFC 101 losing a split decision to Alessio Sakara. Prior to that the Brazilian lost a decision to UFC champ Anderson Silva at UFC 97.
Watson earned his first win inside the Octagon this past February for a second round TKO victory over Stanislav Nedkov at UFC on FUEL TV 7. That win also earned ‘Kong’ the “Knockout & Fight of the Night” bonuses. The Brit won dropped his debut with the UFC to Brad Tavares at UFC on FUEL TV 5 this past fall losing by split decision.