Report: Marlon Moraes vs. Cory Sandhagen Targeted For UFC Headliner on October 10th.

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari - Zuffa LLC & Gabriel Gonzalez - Cageside Press

A mouth-watering bantamweight matchup between one-time title challenger, 'Magic' Marlon Moraes, and top-five ranked challenger, Cory 'The Sandman' Sandhagen is in the works to headline a UFC Fight Night event on October 10th. - with a location and venue yet to be determined by the promotion.

The October outing will serve as Moraes' first since he revealed he and his partner had tested positive for the novel coronavirus recently. The former WSOF bantamweight best last featured at UFC 245 in December, taking a close split decision win over José Aldo in the latter's divisional bow.

Colorado-born contender, Sandhagen suffered his first promotional defeat in his last Octagon appearance - dropping a quickfire rear-naked choke loss opposite expected title challenger, Aljamain 'Funk Master' Sterling at UFC 250 in June. News of the targeted pairing was initially penned by Combate reporter, Raphael Marinho.

Returning to winning ways opposite compatriot Aldo, Nova Friburgo native, Moraes was overlooked for the vacant title meeting on Fight Island in July at UFC 251, with current champion, Petr Yan matching with the aforenoted, Aldo instead. Moraes and Yan were scheduled to headline a UFC Fight Night Kazakhstan event earlier this summer - until it's ultimate cancellation.

Arriving in the UFC back in June of 2017 - Moraes initially dropped a close back-and-forth with perennial contender, Raphael Assunção - before avenging that loss prior to his above-mentioned title clash with Henry Cejudo last June. Moraes, 32, has managed other Octagon successes against the likes of two-time flyweight title challenger, John Dodson, the previously noted, Sterling, and longtime contender, Jimmie Rivera,

A rising contender amongst his bantamweight peers, Elevation Fight Team trainee, Sandhagen will face a Brazilian counterpart for the fourth time in his brief Octagon stint. The well-rounded challenger has already laid claim to the likes of power puncher, John Linker, common foe, Assunção, and division veteran, Iuri Alcântara. From twelve career wins, Sandhagen has notched seven finishes.