Holly Holm officially tabbed to headline UFC card in Chicago

UFC officials announced a pair of main event bouts for July cards during Sunday’s broadcast of UFC Fight Night 87 on Fox Sports 1.

Former women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm will return to the cage for the first time since losing her belt to Miesha Tate in June when she takes on Valentina Shevchenko at UFC on Fox 20 in Chicago on July 23.

Shevchenko had her five-fight winning streak snapped with a unanimous decision loss to Amanda Nunes in March.

The UFC’s first visit to South Dakota also has a main event as lightweight Tony Ferguson will fight Michael Chiesa at UFC Fight Night 91 in Sioux Falls on July 13.

Ferguson has won seven consecutive bouts. He was scheduled to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov in a matchup of top contenders in April, but was forced to pull out of the bout due to injury.

Chiesa, the winner of Season 15 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” has won his last three fights, including two by submission.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj