Decorated grappler Robert Drysdale is finally making his
way to the Octagon.
Drysdale is expected to make his promotional debut
against Ednaldo Oliveira at UFC 163 on Aug. 3 in Rio de Janeiro.
UFC officials confirmed the signing and Drysdale’s
Octagon debut that was first reported on Tuesday by the Las Vegas
Review-Journal.
Drysdale is a world champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and
won the 2007 Abu Dhabi open weight division. He is a grappler that numerous
mixed martial artists have worked with to dial in their submission games.
Drysdale began competing in professional mixed martial arts
competition in 2010 and has thus far amassed a spotless 6-0 record. He has
submitted every opponent, D.J. Linderman being the most recent.
He’ll square off with Oliveira (13-1-1), who suffered the
first loss of his career in January 2012 at UFC 142, his Octagon debut. That
was a submission loss to Gabriel Gonzaga at heavyweight.
Oliveira has since planned to return at light
heavyweight, but has fallen victim to the injury bug on a couple of occasions.
He hopes to make it back to the Octagon at UFC 163, where
featherweight champion Jose Aldo puts his belt on the line against Anthony
Pettis in the main event. (Source)
