Nigeria’s UFC featherweight fighter, Sodiq Yusuff, has announced that he will return to the Octagon to face veteran Edson Barboza at UFC Vegas 81, scheduled for October 14.

Sodiq Yusuff was last in action on October 1, 2022, where he dispatched off Don Shainis in 30 seconds via submission (guillotine choke). By the time the Nigerian returns to the octagon, it would have been over one year since his last fight.

Barboza will be going into the fight off the back of his first-round knockout win over Billy Quarantillo in April 2023 in Kansas. On paper, Yusuff is expected to record a win over the Brazilian who has only recorded five wins in his last 12 fights. 

A loss for Barboza against Yusuff might mark the end of his UFC career. Yusuff has only lost one of his 8 fights since joining the UFC and is enrolee to another victory according to pundits. 

Also read: Tolu Arokodare scores, misses penalty as Sevette dash Genk’s Champions League dream

Yusuff is ranked No. 11 in the featherweight division while Barboza is ranked No. 14. Both fighters announced the fight on their social media platform. Yusuff wrote “Oct 14th Work time.”