Report: Edson Barboza vs. Jeremy Stephens in the Works for Oct. 3 UFC Event

UFC negocia luta entre Edson Barboza e Jeremy Stephens para 3 de outubro | combate | https://t.co/pbG3I5QegU https://t.co/Hh4lp2PL1L

— Raphael Marinho (@raphamarinho) July 31, 2020

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship is in the process of adding a featherweight banger to its Oct. 3 card.

According to a report from Combate on Friday, Edson Barboza (20-9) will be locking horns with Jeremy Stephens (28-18, 1 NC) in the featherweight division. Although the fight has not yet been signed, the two are in consideration for a bout at the Oct. 3 UFC Fight Night event, which does not currently have a disclosed location.

Barboza dropped down to the featherweight division in May, where he lost a contentious split decision to Dan Ige to extend his losing skid to three. Dating back the last three years, the Brazilian has won just once – albeit in a “Beatdown of the Year”-winning performance over Dan Hooker – while losing five. Although his defeat to Justin Gaethje cannot be questioned, his two unsuccessful split verdicts to Paul Felder and the aforementioned Ige had media members scoring both in overwhelming majority in favor of Barboza.

“Lil’ Heathen” is riding an even lengthier winless streak, losing four with a no contest placed between the losses dating back the last two years. In that stretch, Stephens has been knocked out by Jose Aldo and Calvin Kattar, while Zabit Magomedsharipov and Yair Rodriguez captured decisions over him. Tallying up these unsuccessful outings, Stephens set and extended the record for the most losses inside the Octagon with 17. Despite this dubious distinction, Stephens has recorded wins throughout his lengthy career over Josh Emmett, Renan Barao, Gilbert Melendez and Rafael dos Anjos, to name a few.

The UFC Fight Night event on Oct. 3 does not currently have a location scheduled, although it will be headlined by a rescheduled bantamweight showdown between Holly Holm and Irene Aldana. Also on the card, Germaine de Randamie squares off with Juliana Pena, while heavyweights Yorgan De Castro and Carlos Felipe look to both bounce back from their first career defeats against one another.