Las Vegan Gray Maynard to make UFC featherweight debut at MGM Grand

Gray Maynard, left, in action against Kenny Florian during their UFC fight at the TD Garden on Saturday, August 28, 2010 in Boston, MA. Maynard won via unanimous decision. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)

Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Gray Maynard will make his featherweight debut in Las Vegas on July 8 at the MGM Grand.

Maynard will take on Fernando Bruno on “The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale” card.

Bruno lost his UFC debut to Glaico Franca in August 2015.

Maynard, who challenged Frankie Edgar for the lightweight title twice in 2011, has lost four straight bouts. He last competed in a unanimous decision loss to Alexander Yakovlev in April 2015.

Maynard, a longtime Las Vegan, announced he would drop to 145 pounds in November.

In addition to the season title bout, the event will be headlined by a women’s strawweight title bout between Claudia Gadelha and Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

It is part of a stretch of three UFC events in three nights in Las Vegas leading up to UFC 200 on July 9 at T-Mobile Arena.

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