Former UFC heavyweight title challenger Francis Ngannou will face top contender Curtis Blaydes in the main event of UFC Fight Night: Beijing on November 24, sources told ESPN. Both sides have verbally agreed to the bout.
Ngannou (11-3) has lost his last two fights, most recently by unanimous decision to Derrick Lewis at UFC 226 in July. He previously fought Stipe Miocic for the belt at UFC 220 in January but lost via unanimous decision. Ngannou won six in a row prior, including ESPN’s 2017 Knockout of the Year when he finished Alistair Overeem in the first round with a left uppercut.
Blaydes (10-1-1) is coming off a third-round TKO win against Overeem at UFC 225 in June. He has won five of his last six, the lone blemish being a TKO victory against Adam Milstead that was overturned to a ‘no contest’ when he tested positive for marijuana after the fight.
Both fighters squared off once before. Ngannou defeated Blaydes by second-round TKO via doctor stoppage in April 2016.
The event will mark the promotion’s first in Beijing.