Michael Chiesa returns to face Kevin Lee in UFC Fight Night 112 main event
Michael Chiesa is set for his return after more than a year away from the Octagon.
The top lightweight will take on Kevin Lee in the main event of UFC Fight Night 112 on June 25 in Oklahoma City, MMA Fighting confirmed with UFC officials Thursday. Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal was the first to report the news.
MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani mentioned the possibility of the bout earlier Thursday.
Significant talks recently re: booking Michael Chiesa vs. Kevin Lee as the 6/25 main in OKC, but nothing is finalized just yet.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) March 29, 2017
Chiesa (14-2), who has been dealing with injuries, has not fought since UFC on FOX 19 in April 2016, a second-round submission win over Beneil Dariush. The Washington native is currently on a three-fight winning streak and regarded as one of the best lightweights in the world. Chiesa, 29, has compiled a 7-2 record in the UFC with five fight-night bonuses to boot.
Lee (15-2) is on a four-fight winning streak and coming off a second-round submission win over Francisco Trinaldo earlier this month. The Detroit native was losing the bout against Trinaldo before pulling off the rear-naked choke victory. Lee, 24, is 8-2 in the UFC and regarded as a potential future star.
UFC Fight Night 112 will also feature a featherweight bout between legend B.J. Penn and Dennis Siver. A pair of former UFC champions, Johny Hendricks and Carla Esparza will also be in action. Hendricks takes on Tim Boetsch in a middleweight scrap and Esparza, the former strawweight champion, meets Maryna Moroz.