The UFC has added a pair of bouts to the upcoming UFC Fight Night 77 card in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Nov. 7.
Rising lightweight Johnny Case, unbeaten inside the Octagon, is set to take on jiu-jitsu expert Yan Cabral, while TUF Brazil 4 veterans Bruno Rodrigues and Matheus Nicolau battle in the bantamweight division. Combate first reported the match-ups.
Riding an 11-fight win streak, Case (21-4) makes his first trip to Brazil coming off UFC wins over Kazuki Tokudome, Frankie Perez and Frank Trevino. His previous UFC fights took place in Japan, United States and Mexico.
Cabral (12-1) pulled out from two fights in 2015 with an injury and dengue fever. Eleven of Cabral’s 12 MMA wins have come by way of submission, including his UFC 179 victory over Naoyuki Kotani.
Rodrigues (4-0) impressed early on TUF Brazil 4, stopping Franklyn Santos with a highlight reel spinning hook kick knockout. He went on to tap Leandro Higo in the elimination round, but ended up losing to season winner Reginaldo Vieira in the semifinal.
A fellow TUF Brazil 4 veteran, Nicolau (10-1-1) defeated Mateus Vasco and Reginaldo Vieira via decision (Vieira later returned to replace injured Giovanni Santos and Leandro Higo and win the trophy), but lost to Dileno Lopes in the semifinal.
UFC Fight Night 77 takes place at the Ibirapuera gymnasium in Sao Paulo and features a trilogy bout between Vitor Belfort and Dan Henderson in the main event. The other bouts already official are Gleison Tibau vs. Abel Trujillo and Gilbert Burns vs. Rashid Magomedov.