Dalcha Lungiambula will drop to middleweight to face octagon newcomer Isi Fitikefu in Abu Dhabi at UFC Fight Island 8, multiple people with knowledge of the booking confirmed the news to MMA Fighting following a report from Twitter user Marcel Dorff.
UFC Fight Island 8 takes place Jan. 20 on Fight Island in the United Arab Emirates. The eve t is currently in need of a new headliner after Khamzat Chimaev’s withdrawal.
A former EFC heavyweight champion, Lungiambula (10-2) fought twice under the UFC banner as a 205-pounder, finishing Dequan Townsend before losing to Magomed Ankalaev in 2019. He was scheduled to make his 185-pound debut in December, but multiple positive COVID-19 tests cancelled his bout with Karl Roberson.
Fitikefu (6-0) travelled to Fight Island earlier this year as part of Robert Whitakker’s team and stepped on the scale as a possible replacement for light heavyweights Ion Cutelaba and Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 254. He finally signed a deal with the company to make his promotional debut in January.