UFC target Diego Brandao vs. Will Chope for UFC Fight Night 38

Brandao vs. Chope planned for UFC Fight Night 38

by Chris Houten @mrhouts

A featherweight bout between Diego Brandao (18-9 MMA, 4-2 UFC) and Will Chope (19-6 MMA, 0-1 UFC) is being targeted for UFC Fight Night 38. MMAjunkie.com announced the bout earlier today, however UFC officials have yet officially announce the bout.

UFC Fight Night 38 takes place March 23 at Ginasio Nelio Dias in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil in his headlined by a rematch between Dan Henderson and Shogun Rua.

The Ultimate Fighter season 14 winner, Diego Brandao enters the bout with Chope looking to get back to winning ways, having had a 3 fight win streak snapped by Dustin Poirier in his most recent bout at UFC 168. 

A product a Jackson's MMA, the Brazilian won The Ultimate Fighter season 14 by defeating current high-flying featherweight Dennis Bermudez in the finale. Upon winning the show, Brandao lost to Darren Elkins, before beating Joey Gambino, Pablo Garza and Daniel Pineda in succession.

His opponent, 6-foot-4 Will Chope, enters the bout with Brandao looking for his first UFC victory, having lost to Max Holloway by 2nd round TKO his debut at UFC Fight Night 34 in Singapore. The loss snapped a 14 fight win streak for the Californian who fights out of  Maha Sarakham in Thailand.

With the addition of Brandao vs Chope, UFC Fight Night 38 card now includes:

Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio Rua
C.B. Dollaway vs. Cezar Ferreira
Norman Parke vs. Leonardo Santos
Fabio Maldonado vs. Gian Villante
Rony Jason vs. Steven Siler
Mairbek Taisumov vs. Gleison Tibau
Ronny Markes vs. Thiago “Marreta” Santos
Jussier Formiga vs. Scott Jorgensen
Thiago Perpetuo vs. Kenny Robertson
Diego Brandao vs. Will Chope*