Report - Islam Makhachev vs. Thiago Moises Promoted To UFC Vegas 31 Headliner On July 17th.

Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC

The lightweight clash between top-15 contenders, the surging, Islam Makhachev, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace, Thiago Moises has reportedly been reworked from its original landing pad on the main card of UFC Vegas 30, and will now headline the event on July 17th. -- in place of the originally booked headliner between former featherweight best, Max Holloway and the #3 ranked, Yair Rodriguez. The UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada will host the event. 

Undefeated in his last seven Octagon walks, Makhachev most recently featured at UFC 259 in March, in an impressive main card victory over Elevation Fight Team mainstay, Drew Dober -- via a one-sided third round arm-triangle. 

Sao Paulo native, Moises has scored triumphs in his last three on the trot, most recently besting Alexander Hernandez via unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 20 in February. News of the reworked main event was first reported by MMA Junkie reporter, John Morgan. The bout is sanctioned for five, five-minute rounds.

The UFC Vegas 31 event was initially scheduled to feature a headliner between former featherweight kingpin, Holloway and Chihuahua-born striker, Rodriguez, however, Hawaii native, Holloway suffered an undisclosed injury -- forcing him from proceedings. The promotion are expected to rework the matchup of Holloway and Rodriguez for an event in the future. 

Makhachev, a staple of American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California, returned in March for the first time since his unanimous decision success against Davi Ramos at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi, UAE back in September of 2019.

The 29-year-old Makhachkala native has managed to take home other notable promotional victories against the likes of Nik Lentz, Gleison Tibau, and Arman Tsarukyan. In his sole professional and promotional defeat, Makhachev suffered a first round knockout defeat to Adriano Martins at UFC 192 in October of 2015. 

A product of Dana White's Contender Series 3 back in August of 2018, American Top Team staple, Moises has managed to establish a 4-2 promotional record in his three years with the UFC. 

Initially debuting with a unanimous decision loss to the now-surging, Beneil Dariush, Moises then bested Kurt Holobaugh before another unanimous judging loss to Damir Ismagulov. During his three-fight streak recently, the 26-year-old Paulo Strecken Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt submitted Michael Johnson with an achilles lock, before his decision wins over veteran, Bobby Green, and the aforenoted, Hernandez.