The UFC is targeting a middleweight matchup between former champion Robert Whittaker and Marvin Vettori in June, officials told ESPN on Thursday.
Contracts have not been signed, but the bout is close to being finalized for a UFC 275 pay-per-view on June 11. A location for the card has yet to be announced, but it’s expected to take place in Singapore.
Whittaker (23-6), of Australia, is coming off a decision loss to Israel Adesanya at UFC 271 in February. The former champ felt he did enough to win the five-round fight, and has made it clear he intends to pursue a third fight against Adesanya. He has lost to Adesanya twice in title fights.
Vettori (18-5-1), who trains out of California, is coming off a five-round decision over Paulo Costa in a bout that was held at 205 pounds, when Costa couldn’t make the 185-pound weight limit.