Aspen Ladd to return to UFC July 24 vs. Macy Chiasson?
ESPN's Brett Okamoto reports that top UFC bantamweight prospect Aspen Ladd (9-1-0) will return to the octagon to face Macy Chiasson (8-1-0) on July 24.
Ladd, who turned 26 years old last month, hasn't competed since earning a victory over Yana Kunitskaya in December 2019 before the UFC had its schedule altered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The American was set to fight last June but suffered a torn ACL and MCL in training. Despite her lengthy absence, Ladd remains No. 3 in the official UFC rankings for the division.
Ladd holds a UFC record of 4-1 and suffered her only loss to former featherweight champion Germaine de Randamie in July 2019. As noted by MMA Junkie, Ladd endured a difficult weight cut before that match and ultimately lost in 16 seconds, but some said after that the fight was prematurely stopped:
Chiasson, 29, earned a victory over Marion Reneau, Ladd's teammate, in March and is 4-1 in the promotion's bantamweight division.
The UFC has not yet announced a location for the July 24 show. It's widely believed UFC president Dana White will look to host future cards at venues with fans despite continued concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic.
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