The UFC announced two featherweight bouts which could have direct implications on the future of the division.
Former UFC Lightweight Champion and featherweight contender Frankie Edgar (15-4-0) returns to the cage against submission ace Charles Oliveira (16-3-1).
Edgar is on a misleading three fight losing skid where all three bouts were narrow decision losses. Most recently, Edgar lost a unanimous decision to featherweight champion Jose Also.
Oliveira, who many argue is undeserving of an opportunity of this magnitude, is coming off of a first round knockout loss to Cub Swanson. Before the loss, he had won two in a row, both by submission.
The other featherweight bout announced is emerging contender Cub Swanson (19-5-0) taking on powerhouse German kickboxer Dennis Siver (21-8-0).
Swanson has won four bouts in a row and is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Dustin Poirier in February. Other victims of his current streak include George Roop, Ross Pearson and the previously mentioned Oliveira.
Siver is on a two-fight winning streak of his own and is 6-1 in his last seven. He is coming off of a brutal beating of Nam Phan in December.
The two bouts could serve as a championship eliminators with the Ricardo Lamas vs. Chan Sung Jung victor expected to be the next challenger.
UFC 162 is scheduled to take place on July 6 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The card is headlined by Anderson Silva defending his UFC Middleweight Championship against Chris Weidman.
