Eight bouts confirmed for UFC 228, including Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Jessica Andrade

Less than two months out from UFC 228, the card is taking shape with key matchups in several divisions.

Eight bouts were officially announced by the UFC on Wednesday for their Sept. 8 pay-per-view event at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, with matchups involving past title contendersKarolina Kowalkiewicz, Jessica Andrade, and John Dodson, and former champion Carla Esparza, among others.

Kowalkiewicz (12-2) and Andrade (18-6) both fell short in their attempts to wrest the strawweight title from then-champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk, but have maintained their high rankings with bounce back wins. After being submitted by Claudia Gadelha, Kowalkiewcz went on to win decisions over Jodie Esquibel and Felice Herrig. Meanwhile, Andrade has claimed back-to-back decision wins against Gadelha and Tecia Torres.

They will now face each other, with the winner staying near the front of the line for a shot at current 115-pound champion Rose Namajunas. The bout was first reported by ESPN.

Esparza (13-5), the UFC’s inaugural strawweight champion, will fight The Ultimate Fighter 23winner Tatiana Suarez (first reported by MMA Fight Night Live).

Since losing her title to Jedrzejczyk, Esparza has gone 3-2 with wins over Cynthia Calvillo, Maryna Moroz, and Juliana Lima. She most recently fought in June, dropping a split decision to Gadelha.

Suarez has won all six of her professional bouts and is 3-0 inside the Octagon. In May at UFC Chile, she made quick work of Alexa Grasso, finishing her with a rear-naked choke submission in round one.

Top-ranked bantamweight Aljamain Sterling (15-3) will look to stop the streaking Cody Stamann(17-1). The bout was first reported by FanSided.

Victorious in his last 10 fights, including three UFC appearances, Stamann faces another tough test in Sterling after taking a split decision against Bryan Caraway at UFC 222.

Sterling has won three of his last four bouts, most recently defeating Brett Johns by unanimous decision in April.

A pair of previously reported bouts have been confirmed. Two-time flyweight title challenger-turned bantamweight contender Dodson (20-9) will meet Jimmie Rivera (21-1) in a bantamweight bout, and Yair Rodriguez (10-2) fights Zabit Magomedsharipov (15-1) at featherweight.

Also announced Wednesday: A bantamweight bout between Ryan Benoit (10-5) vs. Roberto Sanchez (8-1), a middleweight bout between Charles Byrd (10-4) and Darren Stewart (8-3), and a welterweight bout between Geoff Neal (9-2) and Frank Camacho (21-6)

See below for the updated UFC 228 card:

Nicco Montano vs. Valentina Shevchenko

Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Jessica Andrade

Carla Esparza vs. Tatiana Suarez

Aljamain Sterling vs. Cody Stamann

John Dodson vs. Jimmie Rivera

Yair Rodriguez vs. Zabit Magomedsharipov

Ryan Benoit vs. Roberto Sanchez

Charles Byrd vs. Darren Stewart

Geoff Neal vs. Frank Camacho