Business is picking up in the strawweight division.
Sources close to the situation have told Combat Press that former title challenger Rose Namajunas is poised to face Nina Ansaroff at UFC 187 on May 23, which takes place from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The 22-year-old Namajunas will make her return to the Octagon following a third-round submission loss against Carla Esparza in the finals of The Ultimate Fighter 20. The Colorado-based fighter was a favorite to appear in the finals leading into the season based on her previous performances inside the Invicta FC cage. However, with the loss to Esparza, “Thug” has now lost back-to-back fights.
Ansaroff, meanwhile, dropped a decision to Juliana de Lima in her UFC debut in November. Prior to that, the American Top Team fighter had won five in a row, including a vicious knockout win over Munah Holland at Invicta FC 7.
UFC 187 will be headlined by a light heavyweight title fight between champion Jon Jones and challenger Anthony “Rumble” Johnson. The night’s main card will air live on pay-per-view, with the preliminary card likely to be split between a stream on UFC Fight Pass and broadcast on Fox Sports 1. At this time, it is not known where the Namajunas-Ansaroff match-up will land on the card.
[Editor’s Note: This corrects the earlier report that this fight would take place on June 6 in New Orleans.]