A bantamweight matchup between Jesse Strader and Chad Anheliger is in the works for February.
Strader (5-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) is expected to face Anheliger (11-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at UFC Fight Night on Feb. 19 in an event that doesn’t yet have a publicly known venue or location. Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie on Thursday that verbal agreements are in place.
Strader fell short in his UFC debut when he was stopped by Montel Jackson in March. Prior to that, the 30-year-old scored back-to-back knockouts under the Combate Americas banner. He was scheduled to face Mana Martinez at UFC on ESPN 29 in August but was forced to withdraw due to injury.
Anheliger earned a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series 38 last month after he edged out Muin Gafurov. The Canadian, who holds a win over Season 29 “Ultimate Fighter” finalist Brady Hiestand, cashed in as a betting underdog for his ninth win in a row.
