Bethe Correia vs. Pannie Kianzad on tap for UFC 250

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The one-time UFC women’s bantamweight title challenger will fight in front of her home fans in Brazil.

A women’s bantamweight bout is set for the UFC’s return to Brazil’s second-largest city.

Following an initial report from Ag Fight, both Bethe Correia and Pannie Kianzad revealed on their respective social media accounts that they’ll be facing each other at UFC 250 in Rio de Janeiro. The night’s main card airs live on pay-per-view, with prelims split between ESPN and ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.

Correia (11-4-1) quite possibly saved her spot on the UFC roster with an upset win over rising prospect Sijara Eubanks in Mexico City last September. The former title challenger had lost her previous two bouts (both by stoppage) to Irene Aldana and Holly Holm, and also went to a draw with Marion Reneau back in 2017. Despite the uninspiring recent set of results, she is still ranked #13 in the 135 lbs division.

Kianzad (12-5) bounced back from a loss to Julia Avila by getting a decision win over Jessica-Rose Clark at UFC Moscow in November. The Swede had made it to the final of The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters in late 2018, only to lose to Macy Chiasson by rear-naked choke. She didn’t get a UFC contract initially, but did win outside the organization and returned on short notice to face Avila.

No main event has been announced for UFC 250, which takes place on May 9th. A men’s bantamweight title bout between Henry Cejudo and Jose Aldo is targeted as the headliner, but nothing is official yet.