Bantamweight contenders meet in UFC Fight Night 96 headliner
One of the top contenders in the crowded UFC bantamweight division is going to have a great case for a title shot after Oct. 1.
That’s the date John Lineker will take on John Dodson in the main event of UFC 196 in Portland, Ore., the organization announced on Monday.
The winner will be right in the mix for the next shot at the title.
Lineker has won five straight fights, including three since moving back up to 135 pounds. Two of his last three wins have come by first-round knockout.
Dodson is 7-2 since signing with the UFC with both losses coming in title fights to flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson. He moved to 135 pounds for his last fight and knocked out Manny Gamburyan in just 37 seconds.
Lightweight Will Brooks will also be in action against Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira on the card, which is the second the organization has held in Portland and the first since UFC 102 in 2009.
Brooks, the former Bellator champion who has won nine fights, made a successful UFC debut with a unanimous decision win over Ross Pearson in July.
A pair of key featherweight bouts are also part of the card as unbeaten Brian Ortega gets a top-10 opponent Hacran Dias and Sergio Pettis takes on Louis Smolka.
Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow @adamhilllvrj on Twitter.
