Unbeaten Canadian John Makdessi has signed with the UFC and will make his promotional debut against Pat Audinwood at UFC 124 in December.
The news was first reported by Mac's MMA New York, and sources close to Audinwood's camp confirmed the fight with MMA Fighting on Thursday.
Makdessi, a Quebec native who has not yet fought outside of Canada, will debut for the UFC in front of his home fans. UFC 124 takes place at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Dec. 11, the UFC's second trip to the venue this year and fourth overall.
A student of Georges St-Pierre head trainer Firas Zahabi, Makdessi (7-0) last month won a decision over M-1 and WEC veteran Bendy Casimir. It was the first time Makdessi, a kickboxer by trade, had to go the distance – his previous six wins all came by TKO.
Audinwood (9-1, 0-1 UFC) who trains at Team Bombsquad in New York, which produced top UFC light heavyweight contender Jon Jones and Audinwood's cousin, WEC vet John Franchi. He is coming off the first loss of his career, a submission setback to Thiago Tavares on the preliminary card of UFC 119 in Indianapolis last month.
UFC 124 airs Dec. 11 on pay-per-view and features a main event welterweight title fight between St-Pierre and challenger Josh Koscheck.
The news was first reported by Mac's MMA New York, and sources close to Audinwood's camp confirmed the fight with MMA Fighting on Thursday.
Makdessi, a Quebec native who has not yet fought outside of Canada, will debut for the UFC in front of his home fans. UFC 124 takes place at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Dec. 11, the UFC's second trip to the venue this year and fourth overall.
A student of Georges St-Pierre head trainer Firas Zahabi, Makdessi (7-0) last month won a decision over M-1 and WEC veteran Bendy Casimir. It was the first time Makdessi, a kickboxer by trade, had to go the distance – his previous six wins all came by TKO.
Audinwood (9-1, 0-1 UFC) who trains at Team Bombsquad in New York, which produced top UFC light heavyweight contender Jon Jones and Audinwood's cousin, WEC vet John Franchi. He is coming off the first loss of his career, a submission setback to Thiago Tavares on the preliminary card of UFC 119 in Indianapolis last month.
UFC 124 airs Dec. 11 on pay-per-view and features a main event welterweight title fight between St-Pierre and challenger Josh Koscheck.