Islam Makhachev vs. Gleison Tibau booked for UFC 220 in Boston

Gleison Tibau returns to the Octagon for the first time since 2015.

Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

A lightweight clash between Islam Makhachev and Gleison Tibau has been added to UFC 220, sources told MMA Fighting.

UFC 220 will be the promotion’s first pay-per-view card of 2018. The event is scheduled for Jan. 20 at Boston’s TD Garden.

Makhachev (14-1) enters the Octagon coming off back-to-back decision wins over Nik Lentz and Chris Wade, having won three of his four fights under the UFC banner.

Tibau (32-12) is expected to be cleared to return in January following a two-year suspension. The Brazilian veteran submitted Abel Trujillo in his last fight in Nov. 2015, but the win was overturned after he tested positive for EPO.