Uriah Hall-Sean Strickland Middleweight Clash Targeted for UFC 265

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For one Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight contender, a four-fight win streak is about to come to an end.

Per ESPN on Friday, the promotion is putting together a 185-pound scrap between Uriah Hall (17-9) and Sean Strickland (23-3) for UFC 265. The event, which does not currently have a venue set although it may be held in an arena and not the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, will go down on Aug. 7.

Hall is currently riding his longest win streak since beginning his career at 4-0, with knockouts of Bevon Lewis and Anderson Silva along the way. In his last time out, Hall rematched Chris Weidman in April. In just 17 seconds, Hall checked a leg kick that broke Weidman’s leg, thereby awarding Hall the TKO win without ever throwing a single strike. Hall’s career finish rate sits at 82 percent after this run.

Strickland also finds himself on a four-fight stretch of victorious performances, most recently capturing a decision over Krzysztof Jotko in May. “Tarzan” has swung through the competition since returning in October 2020, beating Jack Marshman and Brendan Allen – both at catchweights after Marshman missed weight and Allen’s encounter was set at a 195-pound cap. The former welterweight was away from the sport for just over two years when a motorcycle accident and multiple subsequent surgeries sidelined him. He has not lost since coming back.

UFC 265, which is pending an official location, will take place on Aug. 7. As with other recent pay-per-view cards, the promotion may target a venue in the U.S. other than the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The only other main card fight currently booked on the event is a women’s bantamweight championship affair between Amanda Nunes and Julianna Pena, and it is unclear if that bout will serve as the headliner.