Unbeaten Middleweights Sean Strickland, Luke Barnatt to Meet at UFC Fight Night 42

Luke Barnatt will face a fellow up-and-comer in his next UFC bout. | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

A battle of undefeated middleweights is on tap for UFC Fight Night 42, as UFC officials announced Tuesday that Sean Strickland and Luke Barnatt will lock horns in Berlin.

UFC Fight Night 42 is headlined by a 185-pound showdown between Gegard Mousasi and Mark Munoz and takes place May 31 at O2 World. The event streams live on UFC Fight Pass and marks the UFC’s first visit to Germany since November 2010, when UFC 122 took place at Konig Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen.

Strickland, 23, has been perfect through 14 pro outings over six years of competition. The former King of the Cage champion made an impressive Octagon debut earlier this month, submitting “Ultimate Fighter 17” vet Bubba McDaniel with a first-round rear-naked choke at UFC 171.

Like Strickland’s last victim, Barnatt is also an alumnus of “TUF 17,” but “Bigslow” has posted three straight victories to begin his UFC career. The lanky Brit last competed on March 8, stopping Mats Nilsson with strikes in the first round of their UFC Fight Night 38 clash.