UFC signs former GLORY title challenger Yousri Belgaroui for Azamat Bekoev showdown

2 days ago

After two appearances on Dana White's Contender Series, Yousri Belgaroui will finally make the walk to the octagon.
Belgaroui (8-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) takes on Azamat Bekoev (20-3 MMA, 2-0 UFC) in a middleweight bout at a UFC Fight Night event on Oct. 18 from Rogers Arena in Vancouver, promotion officials announced Monday.
The pair were originally in discussions to fight at Saturday's UFC on ESPN 71 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, but the bout was scrapped due to Belgaroui's visa issues.
Belgaroui, 33, split his two appearances on DWCS. In his second attempt at a UFC contract, the former GLORY Kickboxing title challenger scored a late TKO of Taiga Iwasaki at DWCS 71 this past September, but still wasn't awarded a deal. Belgaroui fought both former UFC champions Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira in kickboxing, but lost to both of them.
Bekoev, 29, is on a an eight-fight win streak. The former LFA champion finished both Zach Reese and "The Ultimate Fighter," Season 32 winner Ryan Loder by first-round TKO in the UFC.
With the addition, the UFC Vancouver lineup includes: