UFC flyweight contender John Moraga set to return to action in Las Vegas
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight title challenger John Moraga will return to action after more than a year away to face Matheus Nicolau in Las Vegas on July 8 at the MGM Grand.
Sources close to the organization confirmed Friday the bout would be part of “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 23 finale card.
Moraga suffered a concussion during a loss to Joseph Benavidez in May 2015 and has been unable to compete.
The former All-American wrestler at Arizona State is 3-2 since a fifth-round submission loss to champion Demetrious Johnson in July 2013 with the other loss coming to top contender John Dodson.
Nicolau, a semifinalist on Season 4 of “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil” submitted Bruno “Korea” Rodrigues in the third round of his UFC debut in November.
The July 8 event will be headlined by a women’s strawweight title bout between Claudia Gadelha and champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk, as well as the season title bout.
It is part of three UFC events in three nights culminating with 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
