John Makdessi, Edson Barboza Slated for Lightweight Showdown at UFC 162

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John Makdessi and Edson Barboza will do battle at UFC 162, promotion officials announced Friday.

The showdown of lightweight strikers serves as the latest addition to the July 6 bill, which is topped by a middleweight title showdown between longtime champion Anderson Silva and unbeaten challenger Chris Weidman. The pay-per-view event takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will also see Chan Sung Jung square off with Ricardo Lamas in a pivotal featherweight pairing.

Makdessi, 27, joined the UFC in 2010, rattling off back-to-back victories over Pat Audinwood and Kyle Watson before suffering consecutive defeats to Dennis Hallman and Anthony Njokuani. “The Bull” halted that skid last year, however, outpointing veteran Sam Stout and then doing the same to “TUF 15” alum Daron Cruickshank last month at UFC 158.

Barboza, meanwhile, returned to action on Jan. 19 after spending eight months on the shelf following an upset knockout loss to former WEC champion Jamie Varner. The native Brazilian responded to his first defeat by posting a one-sided win over countryman Lucas Martins, stopping the previously unbeaten prospect in just 2:38.