Alistair Overeem vs. Augusto Sakai targeted to headline Sept. 5 UFC card

Alistair Overeem’s next challenge will be to stop the surging Augusto Sakai.

MMA Fighting confirmed with sources that Overeem and Sakai are expected to meet in a heavyweight bout at a UFC event on Sept. 5 at a location to be determined. The matchup was first reported by ESPN.

For Overeem (46-18, 1 NC), this marks his 66th pro MMA bout and his 19th appearance for the UFC. He has won three of his last four fights, most recently defeating Walt Harris by second-round TKO in May. Prior to that he suffered a fifth-round knockout loss to Jairzinho Rozenstruik that followed back-to-back first round TKOs of Aleksei Oleinik and Sergei Pavlovich.

Sakai (15-1-1) has yet to taste defeat since earning a contract on the Contender Series in August 2018. He is 4-0 in the UFC with split decision wins over Blagoy Ivanov and Andrei Arlovski and knockouts of Marcin Tybura and Chase Sherman. Overall, the former Bellator standout has won six straight fights.

A bantamweight bout between Nicco Montano and Julia Avila and a flyweight bout between Montana De La Rosa and Maryna Moroz are also expected to take place on the Sept. 5 UFC show as well.