UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas has agreed to defend her title in enemy territory later this year, according to UFC president Dana White.
Namajunas will face Brazilian challenger Jessica Andrade at UFC 237 on May 11 in Brazil. The 115-pound title fight is expected to serve as the co-main event at UFC 237, White told ESPN on Monday.
The UFC has not yet announced an official venue, but the fight will take place in Brazil.
Namajunas (8-3) will be seeking her second title defense. She won the belt in a shocking, first-round upset of Joanna Jedrzejczyk in late 2017 and successfully defended the title in a rematch at UFC 223 in April 2018.
Fighting out of Denver, Namajunas missed the second half of 2018 with a neck injury. At 26, she is the youngest current UFC champion.
Andrade (19-6) will ride a three-fight win streak into the championship bout. This will mark the 27-year-old’s second chance at a UFC title. She fought Jedrzejczyk for the belt in May 2017 and lost a five-round unanimous decision.