Michihiro Omigawa and Darren Elkins are expected to meet in a featherweight bout at UFC 131 in June. Sources close to the planned fight confirmed to MMA Fighting on Monday that verbal agreements were in place, though contracts have not yet been signed. The booking was first reported by MMA Junkie.
UFC 131, though not yet made official by the promotion, is expected to take place at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on June 11.
Omigawa (12-9-1, 0-3 UFC) made his return to the UFC earlier this month, dropping a unanimous decision to Chad Mendes at UFC 126. After decision losses to Matt Wiman at UFC 76 and Thiago Tavares at UFC Fight Night 12, Omigawa was cut from the UFC and dropped to featherweight. He went 8-2-1, all in Japan, before getting the call to return to the UFC.
MMA Fighting was first to report earlier this month that Elkins (12-2, 1-1 UFC) was dropping from lightweight to featherweight. This will be his first fight since a first-round submission loss to Charles Oliveira last August at UFC Live on Versus 2. He was scheduled to meet Edson Barboza at UFC 123 in November, but a knee injury forced him out of that fight.
Elkins, an Indiana-based former state champion wrestler, won his UFC debut in quick fashion against Duane Ludwig at UFC Live on Versus 1 last March when a takedown severely injured Ludwig's leg. Before signing with the UFC, Elkins' biggest wins were decisions over Bellator Season 2 lightweight tournament champion Pat Curran and UFC veteran Gideon Ray.
UFC 131 is expected to feature a main event of former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar vs. Junior dos Santos. The two are currently taping Season 13 of "The Ultimate Fighter" as opposing coaches; that season will debut next month.
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