After the two middleweights recently argued about a potential location for their bout on social media, Brunson confirmed to ESPN.com that they will square off in the UFC on Fox 27 main event in Charlotte, N.C., on Jan. 27. “Jacare” had called for the contest to take place at UFC Fight Night 125 in Belem, Brazil, on Feb. 3.
Brunson told ESPN that he signed his contract to fight at UFC on Fox 27 and expects an announcement from the promotion soon. UFC President Dana White told reporters on Tuesday that the pairing was set but did not reveal a date or venue.
Brunson and Souza first crossed paths under with Strikeforce banner in August 2012, when the Brazilian won via knockout in 41 seconds. Brunson, a native of Wilmington, N.C., has won seven of his last nine Octagon appearances and is coming off a first-round knockout of Lyoto Machida at UFC Fight Night 119 on Oct. 28.
The 37-year-old Souza last appeared at UFC on Fox 24, where he suffered a second-round TKO loss to current 185-pound interim titlist Robert Whittaker. After that defeat, Souza underwent surgery to repair a ruptured pectoral tendon in his chest.