November 2, 2024

Paige VanZant vs. Poliana Botelho targeted for UFC 236

By Dave Doyle@davedoylemma

MMAfighting.com

Fresh off her first victory since 2016, Paige VanZant is making a fast return to the Octagon.

Although contracts have not yet been signed, PVZ and Poliana Botelho have agreed to compete at UFC 236 on April 13 in a flyweight bout. MMA Fighting confirmed an initial Wednesday report by Combate.

The 24-year-old VanZant improved to 8-4 with a victory over Rachael Ostovich on Jan. 19 at UFC Brooklyn. The second-round submission victory was her first win since jumping up to flyweight from strawweight and was her first win since her Aug. 27, 2016 knockout of Bec Rawlings.

Botelho (7-2), meanwhile, returns to the 125-pound weight class after a strawweight stint. The 30-year-old from Rio de Janeiro was submitted by Cynthia Calvillo on Nov. 17 in the first round of their bout in Argentina. The defeat snapped a four-fight winning streak.

UFC 236 has not officially had a venue announced yet. On Tuesday, an interim middleweight title fight between Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum was reported for the card.

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