A heavyweight matchup has been added to UFC 277.
Don’Tale Mayes (9-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC) and Justin Tafa (5-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC) will square off in a three-round bout at a location and venue to-be-announced for the July 30 pay-per-view. Dallas currently is the frontrunner to host the event.
Two people with knowledge of the booking informed MMA Junkie of the matchup Friday but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Mayes, 30, currently is on a two-fight winning streak. The back-to-back victories over Roque Martinez and Josh Parisian came after he lost his first two UFC bouts.
Tafa, 28, snapped a two-fight skid in December when he knocked out Harry Hunsucker with a head kick. Prior to the bout, Tafa became the first heavyweight in UFC history to miss weight when he tipped the scales at 267 pounds.
With the addition, UFC 277 includes:
- Brandon Moreno vs. Kai Kara-France – for interim flyweight title
- Derrick Lewis vs. Sergei Pavlovich
- Magomed Ankalaev vs. Anthony Smith
- Mariya Agapova vs. Ji Yeon Kim
- Paulo Costa vs. Luke Rockhold
- Diego Ferreira vs. Drakkar Klose
- Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Michael Morales
- Don’Tale Mayes vs. Justin Tafa
UFC 277 adds more heavyweights: Don’Tale Mayes vs. Justin Tafa set