Fight Master winner Joe Riggs was recently released by Bellator and the MMA veteran is returning to the UFC to face Paulo Thiago at UFC Fight Night 51 on September 13th in Brazil.
Sources confirmed the news of Riggs being released and signing with the UFC to TheMMAReport.com on Thursday morning following a report from Globo.
UFC Fight Night 51 is expected to come from the Nilson Nelson Gymnasium in Brasila, Brazil and will be headlined by a heavyweight bout as Andrei Arlovski meets Antonio Silva.
Riggs (40-14, 1NC) is currently on a six fight winning streak and his only fight in Bellator came in the Fight Master final as he defeated Mike Bronzoulis by unanimous decision at Bellator 106. This will be his first fight in the UFC since 2006 when he was defeated by Diego Sanchez in the main event of UFC Fight Night 7.
Thiago (15-7) has dropped back to back fights and six of his last eight. He is coming off a decision defeat at The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3 Finale against Gasan Umalatov and his last win took place last year at UFC on FX 8 against Michel Prazeres. He was initially scheduled to meet Mike Rhodes on this fight card, but an injury pulled him out of the fight.
The current UFC Fight Night 51: Arlovski vs. Silva II is below.
Andrei Arlovski (22-10) vs. Antonio Silva (18-5)
Leonardo Santos (12-3-1) vs. Lukasz Sajewski (13-0)
Sergio Moraes (8-3) vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio (19-2)
Igor Araujo (25-6, 1NC) vs. George Sullivan (15-3, 1NC)
Paulo Thiago (15-7) vs. Joe Riggs (40-14, 1NC)
Jessica Andrade (11-3) vs. Valerie Letourneau (6-3)