Before Aljamain Sterling makes his expected move up to the UFC featherweight division, he is set to grapple a current UFC lightweight to start 2024.
Promotional officials announced Thursday that Sterling will face Chase Hooper in the main event of ADXC 2, which takes place Jan. 19 at Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Additionally, multiple people with knowledge of the promotion’s plans confirmed to MMA Fighting that UFC lightweight Terrance McKinney will face Bellator veteran Sidney Outlaw at the event.
Sterling has announced his plans to move up to 145 after losing the bantamweight title to Sean O’Malley at UFC 292 in August. Since then, he competed in a grappling match against UFC veteran Mike Grundy, winning a unanimous decision, and he is also scheduled to headline Fury Pro Grappling 8 against Kevin Dentzler on Dec. 30.
After going 3-3 over his first six octagon appearances as a featherweight, Hooper has found success in the lightweight division, earning back-to-back wins in fights against Nick Fiore and Jordan Leavitt. The 24-year-old will compete in his first grappling match in over a year after submitting Clay Guida via calf slicer at Fury Pro Grappling 6 in December 2022.
