UFC targets Alejandro Perez vs. Johnny Eduardo for Oct. 2 event

A bantamweight matchup is in the works for UFC Fight Night on Oct. 2.

Alejandro Perez (21-8-1 MMA, 7-3-1 UFC) is set to take on Johnny Eduardo (28-12 MMA, 3-4 UFC) at an event that doesn’t yet have a known venue or location.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup informed MMA Junkie of the booking Saturday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Perez will look to snap his first-career losing skid. After going unbeaten in seven consecutive fights, “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America” winner dropped back-to-back bouts to Cody Stamann and, most recently, Song Yadong in July 2019. Perez was scheduled to face Thomas Almeida at UFC Fight Night 179 in October 2020, but he was forced out after testing positive for COVID-19.

Brazil’s Eduardo hasn’t competed since getting submitted by Nathaniel Wood in June 2018. The 42-year-old was scheduled to return against Anthony Birchak at UFC on ESPN 21 in March, but he withdrew due to visa issues. His last win in the octagon came in November 2016 when he scored a second-round TKO of Manny Gamburyan.

With the addition, the UFC Fight Night lineup for Oct. 2 includes:

• Thiago Santos vs. Johnny Walker
• Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira
• Jared Gordon vs. Joe Solecki
• Bethe Correia vs. Karol Rosa
• Fernando Padilla vs. Sean Soriano
• Douglas Silva de Andrade vs. Gaetano Pirrello
• Kyle Daukaus vs. Kevin Holland
• Jimmy Crute vs. Jamahal Hill
• Jamie Mullarkey vs. Devonte Smith
• Macy Chiasson vs. Aspen Ladd
• Johnny Eduardo vs. Alejandro Perez