Punahele Soriano vs. Eric Spicely joins UFC on ESPN 8 lineup in Columbus

A middleweight matchup is the latest addition to UFC on ESPN 8.

Punahele Soriano(7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) will take on Eric Spicely (12-5 MMA, 4-5 UFC), two sources with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie on Sunday. The people asked to remain anonymous because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

UFC on ESPN 8 takes place March 28 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The card streams on ESPN.

Soriano picked up his first promotional win at UFC 245, with a highlight-reel knockout over Oskar Piechota in the first round. The Dana White’s Contender Series vet will look to remain undefeated, when he takes on Spicely.

In his second UFC stint, Spicely filled in on short notice, to take on Deron Winn at UFC on ESPN+ 12 last June. He lost the bout via unanimous decision, in a “Fight of the Night” effort. Spicely was scheduled to return at UFC on ESPN 6 vs. Brendan Allen, before an undisclosed injury forced him out of the bout. He will look to pick up his first UFC win since 2017.

With the addition, the UFC on ESPN 8 lineup now includes:

• Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
• Raphael Assuncao vs. Cody Garbrandt
• Yorgan De Castro vs. Greg Hardy
• Sam Alvey vs. Khalil Rountree
• Carlos Felipe vs. Jeff Hughes
• Davey Grant vs. Louis Smolka
• Mizuki Inoue vs. Tecia Torres
• Randy Costa vs. Martin Day
• Punahele Soriano vs. Eric Spicely