UFC books Bill Algeo vs. Joanderson Brito for January event

The first known date of the UFC’s 2022 schedule has surfaced – and it already has a fight booked.

A featherweight battle between Bill Algeo and recent Dana White’s Contender Series signee Joanderson Brito is set for a January 15, 2022 event. It is unknown whether this event will be the first of the calendar year, nor is it known whether it will be a pay-per-view or UFC Fight Night card. The location and venue are also to be announced.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement of the date. The matchup was mentioned as taking place in “early 2022” on the DWCS broadcast Tuesday, though no date was given.

Algeo (14-6 MMA, 1-2 UFC) will look to rebound following a unanimous decision loss to Brazil’s Ricardo Ramos in May. Prior to that, Algeo defeated Spike Carlyle via unanimous decision to earn his first UFC victory. The Carlyle win was bookended by a “Fight of the Night” bonus-earning unanimous decision loss to Ricard Ramos in Algeo’s promotional debut.

As for Brito (12-2-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), the former LFA standout rides high off a technical decision victory over Diego Lopes on Dana White’s Contender Series in August. After two solid rounds turned in, Brito inadvertently eye-poked Lopes and rendered him unable to continue. Past the halfway mark, the bout was brought to the judges’ scorecards where Brito was named the winner. The victory was his 10th in a row.