The UFC is close to finalizing a bantamweight fight between Germaine de Randamie and Aspen Ladd on July 13 in Sacramento, California, sources told ESPN.
Bout agreements have not been signed, but both sides have verbally agreed, sources said. This will be the five-round main event for the UFC Fight Night that takes place at Golden 1 Center and airs on ESPN+.
MMA Junkie was the first to report the news.
Ladd (8-0) is coming off a unanimous decision win over Sijara Eubanks at UFC Rochester earlier this month. The California native has won all three of her UFC fights, as well as a pair of $50,000 fight-night bonuses in those contests. Ladd, 24, is considered a top prospect and future star in the women’s bantamweight division.
De Randamie (8-3) was the UFC’s first women’s featherweight champion but later was stripped of that title after refusing to defend it against Cris Cyborg due to Cyborg’s past failed drug tests. De Randamie, 35, has won four straight, including a unanimous decision victory over Raquel Pennington at UFC Denver in November. The Netherlands native has lost just once since 2011, to current bantamweight and featherweight champion Amanda Nunes.
The winner of de Randamie vs. Ladd could find herself nearing a 135-pound title shot. Nunes will defend the belt against Holly Holm at UFC 239 on July 6 in Las Vegas.
Also on the UFC Sacramento card, UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber will make his return after nearly three years against prospect Ricky Simon.