Report: Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Felice Herrig targeted for UFC 223

It looks as if the UFC’s return to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York will include an important matchup in the women’s strawweight division.

A report from MMANytt says that Polish contender Karolina Kowalkiewicz is set to fight Illinois’ Felice Herrig at UFC 223 on April 7th. UFC officials have yet to confirm the booking. The night’s main card airs live on pay-per-view, with prelims presumably split between FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Kowalkiewicz (11-2) is coming off an impressive unanimous decision win over Jodie Esquibelat UFC Gdansk in October. That victory snapped a two-fight losing skid, as she came up short against then-champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 205, then was choked out by Claudia Gadelha at UFC 212. Kowalkiewicz is the last fighter to defeat current champ Rose Namajunas, besting her by split decision at UFC 201.

Herrig (14-6) is enjoying by far the best form of her MMA career, matching her career-high with four consecutive wins. The 33-year-old’s winning streak began with a submission of Kailin Curran in July 2016, followed by an upset decision win over Alexa Grasso last February, another decision vs. Justine Kish in June, and most recently a split decision vs. Cortney Casey at UFC 218 in December.

UFC 223 does not have a main event, but is expected to include a lightweight bout between Al Iaquinta and Paul Felder.